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A former Army sergeant major has been ordered to serve half a year in custody for committing sexual assault against a 19-year-old soldier who subsequently died by suicide.

Sergeant Major the former sergeant, forty-three, pinned down soldier the young woman and sought to force a kiss on her in July 2021. She was located without signs of life several months after in her barracks at the Wiltshire base.

Webber, who was judged at the military court in Wiltshire previously, will be sent to a correctional facility and on the offender database for a seven-year period.

Gunner Beck's mother Ms. Mcready remarked: "His actions, and how the military neglected to defend our child afterwards, cost Jaysley her life."

Army Statement

The military leadership said it did not listen to Gunner Beck, who was hailing from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she filed the complaint and has said sorry for its handling of her complaint.

Subsequent to a formal inquiry regarding Gunner Beck's death, Webber admitted to one count of physical violation in September.

The grieving parent commented her child could have been sitting with her relatives in the courtroom now, "to observe the man she reported brought to justice for his actions."

"Conversely, we appear without her, facing perpetual grief that no relatives should be forced to endure," she continued.

"She adhered to protocols, but the individuals in charge neglected their responsibilities. These shortcomings broke our young woman utterly."

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Judicial Process

The judicial body was informed that the assault occurred during an field exercise at Thorney Island, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in summer 2021.

The sergeant, a senior officer at the time, initiated inappropriate contact towards the servicewoman after an evening of drinking while on deployment for a training exercise.

Gunner Beck claimed the accused remarked he had been "waiting for a moment for them to be in private" before making physical contact, restraining her, and attempting to force intimacy.

She filed a complaint against Webber after the assault, despite attempts by military leadership to discourage her.

An official inquiry into her death found the armed forces' response of the report played "an important role in her death."

Family Statement

In a account read out to the judicial body previously, the mother, expressed: "The young woman had only become a teenager and will forever remain a young person full of vitality and joy."

"She believed people to defend her and following the assault, the trust was shattered. She was deeply distressed and terrified of the accused."

"I witnessed the change before my own eyes. She felt helpless and deceived. That assault broke her faith in the system that was meant to safeguard her."

Judge's Statement

While delivering judgment, The judicial officer Alan Large said: "We have to consider whether it can be addressed in a different manner. We do not believe it can."

"We are satisfied the seriousness of the offence means it can only be resolved by incarceration."

He spoke to the convicted individual: "The servicewoman had the bravery and wisdom to tell you to stop and told you to leave the area, but you continued to the degree she considered she would remain in danger from you even when she returned to her assigned barracks."

He stated further: "The next morning, she made the complaint to her family, her acquaintances and her chain of command."

"After the complaint, the unit chose to handle the situation with minimal consequences."

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

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

Additional Context

At the formal inquiry into the soldier's suicide, the coroner said Capt James Hook pressured her to cease proceedings, and merely disclosed it to a higher command "once details became known."

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

The inquiry was additionally informed that mere weeks after the incident Gunner Beck had additionally been subjected to "continuous bullying" by a different service member.

A separate service member, her commanding individual, sent her more than 4,600 text messages confessing his feelings for her, along with a fifteen-page "romantic narrative" outlining his "fantasies about her."

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Institutional Response

The military leadership said it provided its "sincerest condolences" to the servicewoman and her loved ones.

"We remain deeply apologetic for the failings that were identified at Jaysley's inquest in winter."

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