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Family Snapshot

A former service sergeant has been sentenced to six months in prison for committing sexual assault against a young gunner who later ended her life.

Warrant Officer the former sergeant, in his forties, held down soldier Jaysley Beck and tried to force a kiss on her in mid-2021. She was discovered deceased five months later in her military accommodation at Larkhill military installation.

Webber, who was judged at the military court in the Wiltshire region recently, will be placed in a public jail and registered as sex offenders register for seven years.

Gunner Beck's mother Leighann Mcready commented: "His actions, and how the military neglected to defend our young woman following the incident, led to her death."

Military Response

The armed forces said it failed to hear Gunner Beck, who was originally from Cumbria's Oxen Park, when she disclosed the incident and has apologised for its management of her report.

Following an inquest into Gunner Beck's death, the accused admitted to a single charge of unwanted sexual advance in last fall.

Ms McCready said her daughter ought to have been alongside her relatives in legal proceedings today, "to witness the man she reported facing consequences for his actions."

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

"She adhered to protocols, but those responsible failed in their duties. Those failures shattered our child utterly."

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Judicial Process

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

The sergeant, a Sergeant Major at the period, initiated inappropriate contact towards the servicewoman subsequent to an alcohol consumption while on deployment for a field training.

The servicewoman testified Webber remarked he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be in private" before making physical contact, holding her against her will, and making unwanted advances.

She reported the incident against the accused subsequent to the incident, despite attempts by superiors to discourage her.

An inquest into her death found the Army's handling of the report played "a significant contributory part in her demise."

Parent's Account

In a testimony presented to the court during proceedings, the parent, expressed: "Our daughter had only become 19 and will forever remain a young person full of life and laughter."

"She had faith authorities to safeguard her and following the assault, the faith was gone. She was extremely troubled and scared of the sergeant."

"I observed the transformation personally. She felt powerless and betrayed. That violation destroyed her faith in the set-up that was supposed to safeguard her."

Court Ruling

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

"We conclude the gravity of the crime means it can only be resolved by prison time."

He told Webber: "The servicewoman had the courage and good sense to tell you to stop and told you to leave the area, but you persisted to the extent she believed she would remain in danger from you even when she returned to her personal quarters."

He continued: "The subsequent morning, she made the complaint to her relatives, her acquaintances and her military superiors."

"Subsequent to the allegations, the command opted to handle the situation with minor administrative action."

"You were interviewed and you acknowledged your actions had been improper. You prepared a apology note."

"Your professional path continued without interruption and you were in due course promoted to senior position."

Background Information

At the investigation into the soldier's suicide, the official examiner said a commanding officer influenced her to drop the allegations, and just informed it to a higher command "after information had leaked."

At the time, the accused was given a "light disciplinary meeting" with no additional penalties.

The inquiry was additionally informed that only a short time after the assault the servicewoman had additionally been exposed to "persistent mistreatment" by a separate individual.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, her line manager, sent her numerous text messages confessing his feelings for her, accompanied by a 15-page "personal account" describing his "fantasies about her."

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Official Statement

The military leadership stated it provided its "sincerest condolences" to Gunner Beck and her relatives.

"We continue to be sincerely regretful for the deficiencies that were noted at the formal investigation in early this year."

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