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A former Army sergeant major has been ordered to serve half a year in jail for attacking a 19-year-old soldier who subsequently ended her life.

Sergeant Major Michael Webber, forty-three, held down service member Jaysley Beck and sought to make physical contact in the summer of 2021. She was discovered deceased half a year following in her barracks at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

The convicted individual, who was given his punishment at the Court Martial Centre in Wiltshire recently, will be transferred to a public jail and on the sexual offenders list for a seven-year period.

The victim's mother the mother stated: "What he [Webber] did, and how the military did not safeguard our child subsequently, resulted in her suicide."

Military Response

The Army stated it did not listen to Gunner Beck, who was hailing from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she filed the complaint and has apologised for its response to her allegations.

Following a formal inquiry regarding Gunner Beck's death, the accused confessed to a single charge of unwanted sexual advance in the autumn.

The mother said her young woman ought to have been sitting with her family in court today, "to see the person she accused held accountable for his actions."

"Conversely, we appear missing her, facing perpetual grief that no relatives should ever have to face," she continued.

"She complied with procedures, but the individuals in charge neglected their responsibilities. Such negligence shattered our child totally."

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Legal Hearing

The judicial body was advised that the incident happened during an military training at the training location, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in mid-2021.

The accused, a Sergeant Major at the time, initiated inappropriate contact towards Gunner Beck after an evening of drinking while on deployment for a military exercise.

The victim claimed the sergeant remarked he had been "seeking a chance for them to be in private" before taking hold of her, holding her against her will, and attempting to force intimacy.

She filed a complaint against Webber after the violation, regardless of pressure by superiors to convince her against reporting.

An official inquiry into her suicide found the military's management of the allegations played "a significant contributing factor in her suicide."

Mother's Testimony

In a account presented to the judicial body earlier, Ms McCready, expressed: "The young woman had recently celebrated a teenager and will forever remain a young person full of life and laughter."

"She had faith people to protect her and post-incident, the trust was shattered. She was extremely troubled and fearful of the accused."

"I witnessed the change firsthand. She felt helpless and deceived. That violation shattered her trust in the set-up that was intended to protect her."

Court Ruling

During sentencing, Judge Advocate General the magistrate remarked: "We must evaluate whether it can be dealt with in an alternative approach. We do not believe it can."

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

He addressed the defendant: "The servicewoman had the strength and intelligence to demand you halt and directed you to leave the area, but you continued to the point she considered she would remain in danger from you even when she returned to her own accommodation."

He added: "The following day, she made the complaint to her loved ones, her companions and her commanding officers."

"After the complaint, the command decided to deal with you with minor administrative action."

"You were subject to inquiry and you admitted your actions had been improper. You prepared a written apology."

"Your military service continued without interruption and you were subsequently promoted to senior position."

Further Details

At the investigation into the tragic passing, the coroner said military leadership pressured her to drop the allegations, and merely disclosed it to a higher command "once details became known."

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

The investigation was further advised that mere weeks after the incident the servicewoman had further been facing "continuous bullying" by a separate individual.

A separate service member, her commanding individual, directed toward her more than 4,600 digital communications confessing his feelings for her, in addition to a 15-page "love story" describing his "imagined scenarios."

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Organizational Reaction

The armed forces expressed it offered its "deepest sympathies" to Gunner Beck and her relatives.

"We will always be profoundly sorry for the deficiencies that were discovered at Jaysley's inquest in February."

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