Former Sergeant Jailed for Sexual Assault on Young Soldier
Family Snapshot
A former Army sergeant major has been ordered to serve half a year in prison for committing sexual assault against a 19-year-old soldier who subsequently took her own life.
Sergeant Major Michael Webber, forty-three, pinned down service member the young woman and tried to kiss her in mid-2021. She was located without signs of life half a year following in her military accommodation at the Wiltshire base.
The defendant, who was sentenced at the Court Martial Centre in Wiltshire earlier, will be transferred to a public jail and listed on sexual offenders list for multiple years.
The victim's mother Ms. Mcready commented: "What he [Webber] did, and how the Army neglected to defend our daughter subsequently, cost Jaysley her life."
Army Statement
The armed forces acknowledged it ignored the soldier, who was originally from the Cumbrian village, when she filed the complaint and has expressed regret for its management of her allegations.
Following an inquest into Gunner Beck's death, Webber admitted to one count of sexual assault in last fall.
The mother commented her child should have been sitting with her relatives in the courtroom this day, "to observe the individual she accused brought to justice for his actions."
"Rather, we are present missing her, living a life sentence that no loved ones should be forced to endure," she continued.
"She adhered to protocols, but those responsible didn't follow theirs. Those failures destroyed our daughter totally."
Press Association
Legal Hearing
The court was told that the assault took place during an field exercise at Thorney Island, near the Hampshire area, in mid-2021.
The sergeant, a senior officer at the moment, made a sexual advance towards the servicewoman after an evening of drinking while on assignment for a military exercise.
The victim testified the accused said he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be in private" before making physical contact, pinning her down, and trying to kiss her.
She filed a complaint against the accused after the incident, regardless of pressure by military leadership to convince her against reporting.
A formal investigation into her passing found the armed forces' response of the complaint played "more than a minimal role in her demise."
Family Statement
In a account presented to the tribunal during proceedings, the mother, said: "The young woman had just turned nineteen and will eternally stay a teenager full of life and laughter."
"She believed authorities to protect her and post-incident, the confidence was lost. She was deeply distressed and scared of Michael Webber."
"I saw the difference firsthand. She felt helpless and deceived. That violation broke her confidence in the structure that was intended to safeguard her."
Sentencing Remarks
While delivering judgment, Judge Advocate General the judge stated: "We must evaluate whether it can be handled in a different manner. We do not believe it can."
"We are satisfied the severity of the crime means it can only be resolved by incarceration."
He spoke to the convicted individual: "The servicewoman had the bravery and wisdom to tell you to stop and told you to retire for the night, but you carried on to the point she considered she could not feel secure from you even if she returned to her assigned barracks."
He stated further: "The subsequent morning, she disclosed the assault to her relatives, her friends and her chain of command."
"Following the report, the unit decided to handle the situation with minor administrative action."
"You underwent questioning and you accepted your actions had been inappropriate. You composed a apology note."
"Your professional path advanced without interruption and you were eventually promoted to senior position."
Background Information
At the formal inquiry into the soldier's suicide, the official examiner said Capt James Hook influenced her to withdraw the complaint, and merely disclosed it to a superior officers "when the cat was already out of the bag."
At the period, the sergeant was given a "minimal consequence discussion" with no serious repercussions.
The inquest was also told that mere weeks after the incident Gunner Beck had further been subjected to "relentless harassment" by another soldier.
Another soldier, her line manager, transmitted to her more than 4,600 text messages expressing emotions for her, along with a multi-page "love story" describing his "fantasies about her."
Personal collection
Organizational Reaction
The Army said it extended its "deepest sympathies" to Gunner Beck and her family.
"We will always be deeply apologetic for the deficiencies that were discovered at the official inquiry in February."
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