Ex- Sergeant Major Sentenced for Sexual Assault on 19-Year-Old Soldier

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An ex- military sergeant has been sentenced to half a year in prison for committing sexual assault against a 19-year-old soldier who subsequently ended her life.

Sergeant Major Michael Webber, in his forties, held down service member the young woman and sought to kiss her in July 2021. She was located without signs of life five months later in her quarters at the Wiltshire base.

The convicted individual, who was judged at the legal proceedings in the Wiltshire region earlier, will be transferred to a public jail and on the sexual offenders list for seven years.

Gunner Beck's mother the mother remarked: "His actions, and how the military did not safeguard our young woman following the incident, cost Jaysley her life."

Army Statement

The Army stated it did not listen to the soldier, who was hailing from Cumbria's Oxen Park, when she filed the complaint and has expressed regret for its response to her allegations.

Following a formal inquiry regarding Gunner Beck's death, the accused admitted to the offense of physical violation in September.

Ms McCready commented her young woman ought to have been alongside her family in legal proceedings this day, "to observe the individual she filed against brought to justice for his actions."

"Rather, we stand here in her absence, living a life sentence that no family should be forced to endure," she continued.

"She adhered to protocols, but the individuals in charge failed in their duties. These shortcomings shattered our child utterly."

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Judicial Process

The judicial body was advised that the assault took place during an adventure training exercise at the exercise site, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in mid-2021.

The accused, a ranking soldier at the period, initiated inappropriate contact towards Gunner Beck following an alcohol consumption while on duty for a field training.

The servicewoman testified the sergeant stated 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 assault, despite attempts by military leadership to convince her against reporting.

An official inquiry into her death found the Army's handling of the report played "a significant contributing factor in her suicide."

Mother's Testimony

In a account presented to the judicial body earlier, Ms McCready, stated: "The young woman had only become a teenager and will always be a teenager full of life and laughter."

"She had faith people to defend her and after what he did, the trust was lost. She was very upset and terrified of Michael Webber."

"I witnessed the difference before my own eyes. She felt powerless and betrayed. That assault broke her trust in the system that was meant to safeguard her."

Judge's Statement

When announcing the verdict, The judicial officer the judge remarked: "We need to assess whether it can be addressed in another way. We do not consider it can."

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

He spoke to the convicted individual: "The victim had the courage and good sense to tell you to stop and instructed you to leave the area, but you continued to the degree she considered she wouldn't be safe from you even if she returned to her personal quarters."

He added: "The subsequent morning, she disclosed the assault to her loved ones, her friends and her military superiors."

"Subsequent to the allegations, the unit decided to deal with you with minimal consequences."

"You underwent questioning and you accepted your actions had been unacceptable. You prepared a apology note."

"Your career advanced completely unaffected and you were in due course elevated to Warrant Officer 1."

Additional Context

At the investigation into the soldier's suicide, the investigating officer said a commanding officer pressured her to drop the allegations, and just informed it to a superior officers "after information had leaked."

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

The investigation was also told that only a short time after the violation Gunner Beck had also been subjected to "relentless harassment" by another soldier.

Another soldier, her line manager, directed toward her numerous SMS communications declaring attachments for her, accompanied by a multi-page "personal account" outlining his "imagined scenarios."

Family handout

Organizational Reaction

The armed forces said it extended its "deepest sympathies" to the servicewoman and her relatives.

"We continue to be deeply apologetic for the failings that were identified at the formal investigation in winter."

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