Ex-sergeant jailed for sexual assault on soldier

A former sergeant major has been sentenced to six months in prison for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old soldier who later committed suicide.

Midshipman Michael Webber, 43, cornered Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck and tried to kiss him in July 2021. Five months later he was found dead in his barracks in Larkhill, Wiltshire.

Webber, who was previously sentenced at the Court Combat Center in Wiltshire, will be placed in a civilian prison and placed on the sex offenders register for seven years.

Gunner Beck’s mother Leighann Mready said: “What did he do? [Webber] “He did that, and the Army’s subsequent failure to protect our daughter cost Jaysley her life.”

The army said it did not listen to Gunner Beck, originally from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when he reported the attack and apologized for its handling of his complaint.

do not follow Investigation into the death of Gunner Beckwebber Pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault In September.

Ms McCready said her daughter had to sit in court with her family today “to see that the person she reported is held accountable for his actions”.

“Instead we stand here without him and live a life sentence that no family should ever have to face,” he added.

“She followed the rules, but those in charge did not follow the rules. These failures completely devastated our daughter.”

Speaking outside court after the sentencing, Ms McCready said the Army had talked about lessons learned but was “still waiting to see real change”.

“I stand here as a grieving mother fighting for real change, not empty promises or recycled promises that have already disappointed my daughter and continue to disappoint others.

“Our soldiers deserve a system they can trust, a system that protects them, believes in them, and values ​​their lives above their own dignity.

“We can’t bring our daughter back, but I will continue to fight for her life to bring about change that I hope will help and save others.”

The incident occurred during an adventure training exercise on Thorney Island, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in July 2021, the court was told.

Webber, then a Staff Sergeant, made a sexual advance towards Gunner Beck after drinking one evening while on duty for a training exercise.

Gunner Beck claims Webber previously said he was “waiting for a moment for them to be alone” He grabs her leg and pins her to the ground and tries to kiss her..

Despite her superiors’ attempts to persuade her not to do so, she filed a complaint against Webber following the incident.

The investigation into his death found that the Army’s handling of the complaint played “more than a minimal contributing role in his death.”

Following the investigation, Gunner Beck’s family asked Wiltshire Police to consider criminal proceedings against Webber, who was later charged with sexual assault.

In a statement read to the court earlier, Ms McCready said: “She had just turned 19 and will always be a young person full of life and laughter.

“She trusted people to protect her and after what he did her trust was destroyed. She was very upset and afraid of Michael Webber.

“I saw the change before my own eyes. He felt powerless and betrayed. This attack shattered his faith in the order that was supposed to protect him.”

At sentencing, Judge Advocate General Alan Large said: “We must consider whether this matter could have been dealt with in another way. We do not think this is possible.”

“We believe the seriousness of the crime means that this can only be solved with immediate custody.”

He told Webber: “He had the courage and the good sense to tell you to stop and he told you to go to bed, but you persisted to the extent that he thought he wouldn’t be safe from you even if he went back to his own home.”

He continued: “The next morning, he reported the incident to his family, friends and chain of command.

“Following the report, the unit has decided to take minor administrative action with you.

“You spoke and agreed that your behavior was unacceptable. You wrote a letter of apology.

“Your career continued unaffected and in due course you were promoted to Warrant Officer 1.”

At the inquest into Gunner Beck’s death, the coroner said Captain James Hook pressured Gunner Beck to retract the allegations and only reported this to higher command “when the cat was out of the bag”.

At that time, Webber was given a “minor administrative action hearing” with no other consequences.

The inquest was also told that Gunner Beck was also subjected to “relentless harassment” by another soldier for several weeks after the attack.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, division manager, Sent him over 4,600 text messages He confesses his feelings for her, along with a 15-page “love story” detailing his “fantasies about her.”

The army said it offered its “sincere condolences” to Gunner Beck and his family.

“We will always deeply regret the failings identified in Jaysley’s investigation in February.

“This presiding judge’s end is another traumatic step in the journey for Jaysley’s family, and we acknowledge today’s outcome comes too late for their beloved daughter.”

Major General Jon Swift, deputy chief of staff, said: “Following Jaysley’s investigation, work is ongoing to introduce change – so staff can raise their complaints knowing they will be dealt with.”

The Ministry of Defense said there was “absolutely no place for unacceptable and criminal behavior” in the Armed Forces.

The army established the Defense Serious Crime Command (DSCC) in 2022, a year after Jaysley’s death, as part of a major reform of the UK military’s justice system.

The Ministry of Defense added: “Defence Serious Crime Command reassures all serving personnel that any report of serious crime will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, independently of their chain of command.

“This includes the Violence Against Women and Girls Working Group and our Victim and Witness Care Unit, which provides independent support to victims.”

Additional reporting by Bea Swallow, Dawn Limbu and Clara Bullock

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