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Family Snapshot

An ex- military sergeant has been given six months in custody for committing sexual assault against a teenage servicewoman who later died by suicide.

Warrant Officer Michael Webber, in his forties, pinned down Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck and sought to kiss her in mid-2021. She was discovered deceased five months later in her quarters at the Wiltshire base.

The convicted individual, who was judged at the Court Martial Centre in the Wiltshire region previously, will be placed in a correctional facility and on the offender database for a seven-year period.

Gunner Beck's mother Leighann Mcready remarked: "What he [Webber] did, and how the military failed to protect our child subsequently, resulted in her suicide."

Official Reaction

The armed forces said it failed to hear the soldier, who was a native of Cumbria's Oxen Park, when she disclosed the incident and has expressed regret for its response to her complaint.

Following a formal inquiry regarding the tragic death, the accused confessed to a single charge of physical violation in the autumn.

The mother said her child should have been present with her loved ones in legal proceedings this day, "to witness the individual she reported facing consequences for the assault."

"Rather, we are present missing her, living a life sentence that no loved ones should ever experience," she stated further.

"She adhered to protocols, but the individuals in charge neglected their responsibilities. These shortcomings shattered our child completely."

Press Association

Judicial Process

The legal tribunal was informed that the violation took place during an field exercise at the exercise site, near Hampshire's Emsworth, in mid-2021.

The accused, a ranking soldier at the moment, initiated inappropriate contact towards Gunner Beck subsequent to an evening of drinking while on deployment for a field training.

The victim testified Webber stated he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be in private" before grabbing her leg, pinning her down, and making unwanted advances.

She reported the incident against Webber following the incident, despite attempts by commanding officers to convince her against reporting.

A formal investigation into her death found the Army's handling of the report played "an important role in her suicide."

Parent's Account

In a testimony presented to the tribunal previously, the mother, said: "The young woman had only become 19 and will always be a young person full of energy and happiness."

"She had faith people to safeguard her and post-incident, the trust was gone. She was deeply distressed and terrified of the sergeant."

"I witnessed the difference before my own eyes. She felt vulnerable and abandoned. That incident shattered her faith in the set-up that was meant to protect her."

Judge's Statement

When announcing the verdict, The judicial officer the judge stated: "We have to consider whether it can be addressed in another way. We are not convinced it can."

"We conclude the gravity of the crime means it can only be addressed by incarceration."

He addressed the convicted individual: "The victim had the courage and good sense to demand you halt and directed you to leave the area, but you persisted to the extent she felt she could not feel secure from you even when she went back to her own accommodation."

He added: "The subsequent morning, she reported the incident to her relatives, her acquaintances and her chain of command."

"Subsequent to the allegations, the unit decided to handle the situation with light disciplinary measures."

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

"Your military service advanced completely unaffected and you were subsequently advanced to senior position."

Additional Context

At the investigation into the tragic passing, the official examiner said military leadership pressured her to drop the allegations, and merely disclosed it to a higher command "when the cat was already out of the bag."

At the moment, the sergeant was given a "minor administrative action interview" with no further consequences.

The investigation was additionally informed that just weeks after the incident the soldier had additionally been exposed to "persistent mistreatment" by a separate individual.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, her commanding individual, transmitted to her more than 4,600 SMS communications declaring attachments for her, along with a multi-page "love story" outlining his "fantasies about her."

Family handout

Official Statement

The military leadership said it offered its "heartfelt apologies" to the servicewoman and her family.

"We continue to be profoundly sorry for the shortcomings that were discovered at Jaysley's inquest in February."

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