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An ex- Army sergeant major has been sentenced to half a year in custody for attacking a 19-year-old soldier who subsequently died by suicide.

Warrant Officer Michael Webber, forty-three, restrained Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck and tried to make physical contact in mid-2021. She was discovered deceased five months later in her quarters at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

The defendant, who was judged at the military court in Wiltshire earlier, will be transferred to a civilian prison and registered as offender database for a seven-year period.

The family matriarch Leighann Mcready commented: "The assault, and how the Army neglected to defend our young woman afterwards, resulted in her suicide."

Official Reaction

The Army acknowledged it failed to hear the soldier, who was hailing from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she disclosed the incident and has said sorry for its handling of her allegations.

After a formal inquiry regarding Gunner Beck's death, the accused confessed to one count of sexual assault in last fall.

The grieving parent said her child ought to have been alongside her relatives in the courtroom today, "to witness the individual she filed against facing consequences for his actions."

"Rather, we appear in her absence, facing perpetual grief that no loved ones should ever experience," she added.

"She adhered to protocols, but the accountable parties neglected their responsibilities. Such negligence broke our young woman completely."

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Legal Hearing

The judicial body was told that the incident took place during an adventure training exercise at Thorney Island, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in summer 2021.

The accused, a Sergeant Major at the moment, made a sexual advance towards the soldier subsequent to an alcohol consumption while on duty for a military exercise.

Gunner Beck claimed Webber said he had been "seeking a chance for them to be by themselves" before making physical contact, holding her against her will, and trying to kiss her.

She made official allegations against Webber subsequent to the incident, despite attempts by superiors to convince her against reporting.

An official inquiry into her passing found the armed forces' response of the report played "an important contributing factor in her demise."

Mother's Testimony

In a testimony shared to the judicial body previously, the mother, said: "The young woman had recently celebrated a teenager and will eternally stay a young person full of life and laughter."

"She believed authorities to defend her and following the assault, the faith was lost. She was extremely troubled and scared of Michael Webber."

"I observed the difference before my own eyes. She felt helpless and deceived. That violation broke her faith in the system that was intended to protect her."

Court Ruling

While delivering judgment, Judge Advocate General the magistrate said: "We need to assess whether it can be addressed in another way. We are not convinced it can."

"We conclude the gravity of the offence means it can only be addressed by incarceration."

He told Webber: "The servicewoman had the bravery and wisdom to tell you to stop and told you to retire for the night, but you continued to the point she considered she wouldn't be safe from you despite the fact she went back to her assigned barracks."

He continued: "The subsequent morning, she reported the incident to her relatives, her acquaintances and her military superiors."

"Subsequent to the allegations, the unit decided to address your behavior with minimal consequences."

"You were interviewed and you acknowledged your actions had been unacceptable. You composed a letter of apology."

"Your professional path advanced without interruption and you were eventually advanced to higher rank."

Further Details

At the formal inquiry into the tragic passing, the investigating officer said military leadership put pressure on her to withdraw the complaint, and only reported it to a superior officers "once details became known."

At the moment, the sergeant was given a "light disciplinary meeting" with no further consequences.

The inquiry was further advised that only a short time after the incident Gunner Beck had further been subjected to "relentless harassment" by a separate individual.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, her line manager, sent her numerous digital communications declaring attachments for her, accompanied by a fifteen-page "romantic narrative" describing his "personal thoughts."

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Institutional Response

The armed forces stated it provided its "sincerest condolences" to the servicewoman and her relatives.

"We remain profoundly sorry for the shortcomings that were noted at Jaysley's inquest in winter."

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