Former Sergeant Major Sentenced for Sexual Offense on Young Soldier

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A former military sergeant has been sentenced to 180 days in jail for committing sexual assault against a teenage servicewoman who later took her own life.

Sergeant Major the former sergeant, forty-three, held down Royal Artillery Gunner the victim and tried to make physical contact in July 2021. She was located without signs of life half a year following in her quarters at the Wiltshire base.

The defendant, who was sentenced at the military court in Wiltshire previously, will be placed in a correctional facility and registered as sexual offenders list for a seven-year period.

Gunner Beck's mother Leighann Mcready remarked: "What he [Webber] did, and how the Army failed to protect our daughter afterwards, led to her death."

Army Statement

The Army said it ignored the servicewoman, who was a native of Cumbria's Oxen Park, when she disclosed the incident and has expressed regret for its handling of her complaint.

Following a formal inquiry regarding the soldier's suicide, the accused confessed to a single charge of sexual assault in last fall.

The mother stated her child could have been alongside her family in court now, "to see the individual she accused held accountable for the assault."

"Rather, we stand here in her absence, living a life sentence that no family should ever experience," she added.

"She complied with procedures, but those responsible failed in their duties. These shortcomings destroyed our daughter utterly."

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Legal Hearing

The legal tribunal was informed that the assault happened during an adventure training exercise at Thorney Island, near Hampshire's Emsworth, in July 2021.

Webber, a ranking soldier at the moment, attempted physical intimacy towards Gunner Beck after an social gathering while on assignment for a field training.

The victim testified the sergeant remarked he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be by themselves" before grabbing her leg, pinning her down, and trying to kiss her.

She filed a complaint against the sergeant after the violation, regardless of pressure by commanding officers to persuade her not to.

A formal investigation into her death found the Army's handling of the allegations played "a significant role in her suicide."

Mother's Testimony

In a account read out to the court during proceedings, Ms McCready, said: "The young woman had recently celebrated a teenager and will always be a teenager full of vitality and joy."

"She trusted individuals to protect her and after what he did, the trust was shattered. She was very upset and fearful of Michael Webber."

"I observed the difference firsthand. She felt helpless and deceived. That violation destroyed her confidence in the system that was intended to protect her."

Sentencing Remarks

During sentencing, Judge Advocate General Alan Large stated: "We have to consider whether it can be addressed in another way. We do not believe it can."

"We conclude the severity of the crime means it can only be dealt with by incarceration."

He told the convicted individual: "The victim had the strength and intelligence to demand you halt and told you to retire for the night, but you persisted to the extent she felt she could not feel secure from you despite the fact she returned to her personal quarters."

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

"Subsequent to the allegations, the command chose to handle the situation with minimal consequences."

"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 in due course promoted to senior position."

Background Information

At the inquest into the soldier's suicide, the coroner said Capt James Hook put pressure on her to cease proceedings, and just informed it to a higher command "once details became known."

At the period, Webber was given a "light disciplinary meeting" with no additional penalties.

The inquest was also told that mere weeks after the incident the servicewoman had also been exposed to "relentless harassment" by a separate individual.

Another soldier, her line manager, sent her numerous text messages declaring attachments for her, accompanied by a fifteen-page "romantic narrative" detailing his "fantasies about her."

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Official Statement

The armed forces stated it extended its "deepest sympathies" to Gunner Beck and her family.

"We remain sincerely regretful for the failings that were noted at Jaysley's inquest in February."

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