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A former Army sergeant major has been sentenced to 180 days in prison for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old soldier who afterwards died by suicide.

Sergeant Major Michael Webber, forty-three, pinned down service member Jaysley Beck and tried to kiss her in July 2021. She was located without signs of life several months after in her barracks at Larkhill military installation.

The defendant, who was judged at the legal proceedings in the Wiltshire region earlier, will be placed in a civilian prison and on the sexual offenders list for a seven-year period.

The victim's mother Leighann Mcready remarked: "What he [Webber] did, and how the Army neglected to defend our child following the incident, resulted in her suicide."

Military Response

The Army stated it failed to hear the soldier, who was a native of Cumbria's Oxen Park, when she disclosed the incident and has said sorry for its management of her allegations.

Subsequent to a formal inquiry regarding Gunner Beck's death, Webber admitted to the offense of physical violation in last fall.

The mother said her child could have been alongside her relatives in legal proceedings today, "to see the person she filed against facing consequences for what he did."

"Conversely, we appear without her, facing perpetual grief that no family should ever experience," she continued.

"She adhered to protocols, but the individuals in charge failed in their duties. Those failures broke our young woman totally."

PA

Judicial Process

The court was informed that the incident took place during an adventure training exercise at the training location, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in summer 2021.

The accused, a senior officer at the time, initiated inappropriate contact towards the soldier subsequent to an social gathering while on assignment for a military exercise.

The victim testified Webber said he had been "seeking a chance for them to be alone" before taking hold of her, holding her against her will, and attempting to force intimacy.

She made official allegations against Webber following the incident, despite attempts by military leadership to persuade her not to.

An inquest into her suicide found the armed forces' response of the allegations played "an important role in her death."

Family Statement

In a testimony shared to the judicial body earlier, the parent, said: "Our daughter had recently celebrated 19 and will eternally stay a young person full of energy and happiness."

"She believed authorities to protect her and post-incident, the faith was shattered. She was extremely troubled and fearful of Michael Webber."

"I witnessed the change personally. She felt helpless and deceived. That assault shattered her faith in the system that was meant to safeguard her."

Sentencing Remarks

During sentencing, Judge Advocate General the magistrate remarked: "We need to assess whether it can be handled in an alternative approach. We do not believe it can."

"We have determined the gravity of the violation means it can only be addressed by incarceration."

He addressed the convicted individual: "The servicewoman had the strength and intelligence to tell you to stop and directed you to go to bed, but you continued to the point she believed she wouldn't be safe from you even if she returned to her personal quarters."

He stated further: "The next morning, she made the complaint to her loved ones, her companions and her commanding officers."

"Subsequent to the allegations, the unit opted to address your behavior with light disciplinary measures."

"You were subject to inquiry and you accepted your actions had been inappropriate. You prepared a apology note."

"Your military service advanced unimpeded and you were in due course promoted to Warrant Officer 1."

Background Information

At the investigation into Gunner Beck's death, the coroner said military leadership put pressure on her to cease proceedings, and only reported it to a superior officers "after information had leaked."

At the time, the accused was given a "minor administrative action interview" with no additional penalties.

The inquest was also told that just weeks after the violation the servicewoman had also been facing "relentless harassment" by another soldier.

Another soldier, her commanding individual, directed toward her over four thousand six hundred digital communications confessing his feelings for her, in addition to a 15-page "personal account" describing his "fantasies about her."

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Official Statement

The military leadership expressed it extended its "deepest sympathies" to the soldier and her loved ones.

"We remain sincerely regretful for the shortcomings that were identified at Jaysley's inquest in winter."

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