🔗 Share this article Ex- Sergeant Major Jailed for Sexual Offense on Young Soldier Personal Photograph The Soldier was located without life in her accommodation at Larkhill in Wiltshire on 15 December 2021 An ex- Army sergeant major has been sentenced to six months in custody for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old soldier who later took her own life. Warrant Officer Michael Webber, in his forties, restrained service member Jaysley Beck and attempted to force a kiss on her in the summer of 2021. She was discovered deceased several months after in her military accommodation at Larkhill, Wiltshire. The defendant, who was sentenced at the military court in Wiltshire earlier, will be sent to a correctional facility and listed on sexual offenders list for a seven-year period. The family matriarch Ms. Mcready stated: "The assault, and how the Army failed to protect our daughter following the incident, resulted in her suicide." Official Reaction The military leadership stated it failed to hear the soldier, who was originally from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she filed the complaint and has said sorry for its handling of her complaint. Following an investigation of the soldier's suicide, Webber pleaded guilty to one count of unwanted sexual advance in the autumn. The grieving parent commented her child could have been alongside her relatives in legal proceedings today, "to see the person she reported facing consequences for what he did." "Rather, we stand here missing her, enduring endless sorrow that no family should ever experience," she stated further. "She adhered to protocols, but those responsible neglected their responsibilities. These shortcomings shattered our child totally." News Agency The soldier's mother, the mother, stated her daughter felt 'helpless and deceived' Court Proceedings The legal tribunal was advised that the assault took place during an military training at Thorney Island, near the Hampshire area, in summer 2021. The sergeant, a ranking soldier at the period, attempted physical intimacy towards the soldier following an social gathering while on assignment for a field training. Gunner Beck testified the accused stated he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be by themselves" before making physical contact, restraining her, and making unwanted advances. She made official allegations against the sergeant following the violation, despite attempts by military leadership to convince her against reporting. An official inquiry into her death found the armed forces' response of the complaint played "more than a minimal contributory part in her demise." Parent's Account In a testimony shared to the tribunal during proceedings, the parent, expressed: "The young woman had only become a teenager and will always be a teenager full of energy and happiness." "She trusted individuals to protect her and post-incident, the faith was shattered. She was deeply distressed and fearful of Michael Webber." "I observed the change personally. She felt powerless and betrayed. That violation broke her faith in the set-up that was intended to safeguard her." Sentencing Remarks While delivering judgment, Judge Advocate General the judge said: "We need to assess whether it can be dealt with in an alternative approach. We are not convinced it can." "We have determined the gravity of the violation means it can only be dealt with by prison time." He addressed the defendant: "She had the strength and intelligence to demand you halt 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 returned to her assigned barracks." He stated further: "The following day, she disclosed the assault to her relatives, her friends and her chain of command." "Following the report, the command chose to address your behavior with light disciplinary measures." "You underwent questioning and you acknowledged your conduct had been inappropriate. You composed a apology note." "Your career proceeded unimpeded and you were eventually elevated to Warrant Officer 1." Additional Context At the investigation into the soldier's suicide, the investigating officer said Capt James Hook pressured her to drop the allegations, and merely disclosed it to a superior officers "once details became known." At the period, Webber was given a "minor administrative action interview" with no further consequences. The inquiry was also told that only a short time after the incident Gunner Beck had further been exposed to "relentless harassment" by a different service member. Bombardier Ryan Mason, her commanding individual, transmitted to her numerous text messages expressing emotions for her, in addition to a 15-page "personal account" describing his "personal thoughts." Personal collection An inquest into Gunner Beck's death found the armed forces' response of her allegations played "an important contributory part in her death" Official Statement The armed forces said it provided its "deepest sympathies" to the soldier and her relatives. "We will always be deeply apologetic for the failings that were identified at the official inquiry in February." "{The end of|The conclusion of|The completion