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Family Snapshot

A former Army sergeant major has been ordered to serve 180 days in custody for committing sexual assault against a teenage servicewoman who later died by suicide.

Warrant Officer Michael Webber, in his forties, restrained soldier Jaysley Beck and tried to kiss her in the summer of 2021. She was discovered deceased several months after in her military accommodation at the Wiltshire base.

The defendant, who was sentenced at the military court in the Wiltshire region recently, will be sent to a public jail and on the sex offenders register for multiple years.

The family matriarch Leighann Mcready stated: "The assault, and how the military failed to protect our daughter subsequently, led to her death."

Official Reaction

The military leadership acknowledged it did not listen to the soldier, who was a native of the Cumbrian village, when she reported the assault and has said sorry for its response to her complaint.

After an inquest into the tragic death, the defendant admitted to a single charge of physical violation in the autumn.

Ms McCready said her child could have been sitting with her loved ones in court today, "to witness the man she filed against brought to justice for his actions."

"Rather, we appear missing her, living a life sentence that no loved ones should be forced to endure," she continued.

"She followed the rules, but those responsible neglected their responsibilities. Such negligence broke our young woman totally."

Press Association

Court Proceedings

The legal tribunal was told that the violation happened during an field exercise at the exercise site, near Hampshire's Emsworth, in July 2021.

The accused, a senior officer at the moment, made a sexual advance towards the servicewoman following an alcohol consumption while on assignment for a field training.

Gunner Beck stated the accused stated he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be in private" before taking hold of her, holding her against her will, and attempting to force intimacy.

She made official allegations against Webber subsequent to the assault, notwithstanding efforts by commanding officers to convince her against reporting.

An official inquiry into her suicide found the military's management of the allegations played "more than a minimal contributory part in her death."

Mother's Testimony

In a account shared to the judicial body during proceedings, the parent, said: "She had only become a teenager and will always be a youth full of energy and happiness."

"She believed authorities to defend her and following the assault, the confidence was shattered. She was very upset and fearful of Michael Webber."

"I observed the transformation before my own eyes. She felt vulnerable and abandoned. That assault shattered her faith in the structure that was meant to protect her."

Sentencing Remarks

When announcing the verdict, Judge Advocate General the magistrate stated: "We must evaluate whether it can be handled in an alternative approach. We do not believe it can."

"We are satisfied the seriousness of the offence means it can only be dealt with by immediate custody."

He spoke to the convicted individual: "She had the bravery and wisdom to demand you halt and told you to leave the area, but you continued to the point she felt she wouldn't be safe from you despite the fact she retreated to her assigned barracks."

He continued: "The following day, she disclosed the assault to her relatives, her friends and her military superiors."

"Following the report, the military unit chose to address your behavior with minor administrative action."

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

"Your military service continued completely unaffected and you were in due course promoted to senior position."

Background Information

At the inquest into Gunner Beck's death, the investigating officer said Capt James Hook put pressure on her to drop the allegations, and merely disclosed it to a superior officers "once details became known."

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

The inquiry was also told that just weeks after the violation the soldier had also been subjected to "relentless harassment" by a different service member.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, her line manager, transmitted to her more than 4,600 SMS communications declaring attachments for her, in addition to a 15-page "personal account" describing his "imagined scenarios."

Family handout

Official Statement

The military leadership stated it offered its "deepest sympathies" to the soldier and her relatives.

"We continue to be sincerely regretful for the shortcomings that were noted at the formal investigation in February."

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