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A former service sergeant has been sentenced to half a year in prison for attacking a 19-year-old soldier who later died by suicide.

Sergeant Major Michael Webber, 43, pinned down soldier Jaysley Beck and attempted to make physical contact in mid-2021. She was located without signs of life half a year following in her barracks at the Wiltshire base.

The defendant, who was given his punishment at the legal proceedings in Wiltshire previously, will be placed in a civilian prison and listed on sexual offenders list for multiple years.

The victim's mother Leighann Mcready stated: "What he [Webber] did, and how the Army did not safeguard our daughter subsequently, resulted in her suicide."

Official Reaction

The military leadership acknowledged it failed to hear the servicewoman, who was originally from Cumbria's Oxen Park, when she disclosed the incident and has said sorry for its handling of her allegations.

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

The mother said her child should have been alongside her family in the courtroom now, "to see the person she reported held accountable for the assault."

"Rather, we appear in her absence, facing perpetual grief that no relatives should ever experience," she continued.

"She complied with procedures, but those responsible failed in their duties. These shortcomings shattered our child totally."

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Legal Hearing

The court was advised that the violation took place during an field exercise at Thorney Island, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in summer 2021.

The accused, a Sergeant Major at the moment, initiated inappropriate contact towards Gunner Beck following an evening of drinking while on deployment for a field training.

The servicewoman testified the accused stated he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be alone" before making physical contact, holding her against her will, and trying to kiss her.

She filed a complaint against Webber following the incident, notwithstanding efforts by commanding officers to convince her against reporting.

An inquest into her passing found the armed forces' response of the complaint played "more than a minimal contributing factor in her suicide."

Mother's Testimony

In a statement shared to the judicial body earlier, the mother, stated: "She had just turned nineteen and will eternally stay a young person full of vitality and joy."

"She believed people to protect her and following the assault, the trust was gone. She was deeply distressed and fearful of the sergeant."

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

Judge's Statement

During sentencing, Judge Advocate General the magistrate remarked: "We need to assess whether it can be addressed in another way. We do not believe it can."

"We are satisfied the severity of the crime means it can only be addressed by immediate custody."

He told the convicted individual: "The victim had the strength and intelligence to demand you halt and instructed you to leave the area, but you continued to the extent she considered she would remain in danger from you even when she went back to her own accommodation."

He continued: "The following day, she disclosed the assault to her family, her friends and her chain of command."

"Following the report, the unit chose to address your behavior with minimal consequences."

"You underwent questioning and you admitted your actions had been inappropriate. You prepared a letter of apology."

"Your professional path continued completely unaffected and you were in due course elevated to higher rank."

Additional Context

At the formal inquiry into the soldier's suicide, the official examiner said military leadership pressured her to withdraw the complaint, and only reported it to a superior officers "once details became known."

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

The inquiry was also told that only a short time after the violation Gunner Beck had also been facing "persistent mistreatment" by a separate individual.

A separate service member, her line manager, directed toward her more than 4,600 SMS communications confessing his feelings for her, along with a fifteen-page "romantic narrative" outlining his "imagined scenarios."

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Official Statement

The armed forces said it offered its "sincerest condolences" to Gunner Beck and her family.

"We will always be sincerely regretful for the shortcomings that were noted at the official inquiry in February."

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