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A former Army sergeant major has been ordered to serve six months in prison for sexually assaulting a young gunner who later took her own life.

Sergeant Major Michael Webber, forty-three, held down soldier the young woman and attempted to kiss her in the summer of 2021. She was discovered deceased several months after in her quarters at Larkhill military installation.

The defendant, who was judged at the military court in the Wiltshire region previously, will be placed in a correctional facility and registered as sexual offenders list for seven years.

The victim's mother Ms. Mcready commented: "His actions, and how the armed forces failed to protect our child following the incident, cost Jaysley her life."

Army Statement

The armed forces stated it ignored the soldier, who was hailing from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she reported the assault and has expressed regret for its handling of her allegations.

Subsequent to a formal inquiry regarding Gunner Beck's death, the accused pleaded guilty to one count of physical violation in last fall.

Ms McCready stated her young woman could have been sitting with her family in court today, "to witness the person she reported brought to justice for what he did."

"Rather, we stand here without her, living a life sentence that no family should ever experience," she added.

"She complied with procedures, but those responsible neglected their responsibilities. Such negligence broke our young woman totally."

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Court Proceedings

The legal tribunal was advised that the assault happened during an adventure training exercise at Thorney Island, near Hampshire's Emsworth, in July 2021.

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

Gunner Beck claimed Webber said he had been "seeking a chance for them to be by themselves" before making physical contact, pinning her down, and attempting to force intimacy.

She made official allegations against Webber subsequent to the assault, regardless of pressure by superiors to persuade her not to.

An inquest into her passing found the military's management of the report played "a significant role in her death."

Parent's Account

In a account read out to the tribunal during proceedings, the mother, stated: "The young woman had recently celebrated nineteen and will always be a teenager full of life and laughter."

"She had faith individuals to defend her and after what he did, the faith was gone. She was deeply distressed and fearful of the sergeant."

"I saw the transformation firsthand. She felt vulnerable and abandoned. That incident broke her trust in the system that was meant to look after her."

Court Ruling

When announcing the verdict, The presiding judge Alan Large stated: "We must evaluate whether it can be dealt with in an alternative approach. We do not believe it can."

"We conclude the seriousness of the violation means it can only be dealt with by incarceration."

He addressed Webber: "She had the strength and intelligence to instruct you to cease and directed you to retire for the night, but you persisted to the degree she considered she could not feel secure from you even when she returned to her assigned barracks."

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

"After the complaint, the unit chose to address your behavior with light disciplinary measures."

"You underwent questioning and you admitted your conduct had been improper. You composed a letter of apology."

"Your career proceeded without interruption and you were subsequently advanced to senior position."

Further Details

At the investigation into the soldier's suicide, the coroner said military leadership put pressure on her to cease proceedings, and merely disclosed it to a higher command "once details became known."

At the time, Webber was given a "minimal consequence discussion" with no serious repercussions.

The investigation was further advised that just weeks after the violation the servicewoman had also been exposed to "continuous bullying" by a different service member.

A separate service member, her superior officer, directed toward her numerous text messages declaring attachments for her, along with a fifteen-page "love story" outlining his "fantasies about her."

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Official Statement

The Army expressed it offered its "deepest sympathies" to the soldier and her relatives.

"We will always be sincerely regretful for the shortcomings that were discovered at Jaysley's inquest in winter."

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