Ex-Sergeant convicted of sexual abuse as a teenager

A senior army sergeant has been sentenced to six months for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old soldier who later took his own life.

Warrant Officer Michael Webber, 43, was pinned down by Royal Artillery Gunnery Jaysey Beck and tried to take him away in July 2021. He was found dead five months later in Larhill, Wiltshire.

Webber, who was previously sentenced to prison in Wiltshire, will be jailed in the country for sex offenders.

Gunner Beck’s mother Leighn McCreead said: “What he [Webber] The act, and how the forces failed to protect our daughter in the aftermath, cost Jayloy her life. “

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

Following an inquest into the death of Gunner Beck, Weberber pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault in September.

Ms McCreeady said her daughter should have been sitting with her family in court today, “to see that person report that he was in control of what he was doing”.

“Instead, we’re standing here without him, living out a life sentence that no family should have to face,” it added.

“She followed the rules, but those responsible didn’t follow theirs. Those mistakes completely destroyed our daughter.”

Speaking outside the court after the sentence, Ms McCreeady said the force had talked about lessons learned but that she was “waiting to see any real change”.

“I stand here as a bereaved mother fighting for real change now, not empty promises or recycled words that have failed my daughter and will continue to fail others.

“Our soldiers must trust the system, which protects them, believes in them, and loves their lives on their behalf.

“We will never bring your daughter back, but I will continue to fight to make sure her life leads to a change that helps….and hopefully saves others.”

The court was told that the incident happened during an exercise on Thorney Island, near Morlorth in Hampshire, in July 2021.

Webber, a Master Sergeant at the time, began making sexual advances toward Gunner Beck following an evening of drinking while we were deployed on a training exercise.

Webber’s Gunner Beck said he ‘waited for a moment for her to be alone’ before grabbing her leg, pulling her off the ground, and trying to move her away.

He filed a complaint against Webber after the incident, despite management’s attempts to persuade him not to.

The retrial on his death found the management of the appeal army played “more than half a small hand in his death”.

Gunner Beck’s family subsequently asked Wiltshire Police to consider criminal charges against Webber and he was later charged with sexual assault.

‘Powerless and betrayed’

In a statement read to the Court at the beginning, Ms McCreeady said: “She just turned 19 and will always be a young person full of life and laughter.

“He trusted people to protect him and do what he did, the trust is gone. He was upset and scared of Michael Webber.

“I saw a change in front of my eyes. He felt powerless and betrayed. That attack destroyed his faith when they were supposed to take care of him.”

During the sentencing, the judge representing the Advocate General Alan senior said: “We have to consider that it can be handled in a different way. We don’t think so.

“We are satisfied that the seriousness of the case means that it can only be dealt with on an urgent basis.”

He told Weber: “He had the courage and good sense to tell you to stop and told you to go to bed, but he persisted until he went back to his place of residence.”

He continued: “The next morning, he informed his family, his friends and his chain of command.

“After the report, the unit decided to deal with you with a minor administrative action.

“He was interviewed and he accepted his behavior was unacceptable. He wrote a letter of apology.

“Your career continues to be completely unaffected and you have been promoted to Warrant Officer 1.”

In an inquiry into the death of Gunner Beck, the Coroner said that Jacob put pressure on him to drop the allegations, and that he was only reported to the higher command “when the cat was already out of the bag”.

It was also reported that just weeks after Advultner Gunner Beck had also been subjected to ‘relentless torture’ by another soldier.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, her manager, sent her more than 4,600 texts confessing his feelings for her, as well as 15 letters using “his”.

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

“We will remain deeply sorry for the failure of the errors found in Jaysey’s course in February.

“The end of this court marshal is one of the most difficult steps in Jayley’s family’s journey and we agree that today’s result comes too late for their beloved daughter.

“We are determined to make sure the same mistakes don’t happen again.”

Maj Gen Jon Swift, Assistant Chief of Staff, said: “After Jayley’s inquiry, the work continues to bring about change – so staff can bring complaints knowing they will be dealt with.”

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said that “unacceptable and immoral behavior has no place” in the armed forces.

The force is introducing a serious crime prevention command (DSCC) in 2022, the year Jayley died, as part of a major overhaul of the UK’s criminal justice system.

Mod Added: “Serious Criminal Command assures all serving personnel that any report of a serious crime will be investigated independently from their chain of command and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“This includes violence against women and girls workers and our victim and care Provision, which provides independent support to victims.”

Additional reporting by Bea Swallow, Dawn Limbungu and Clara Bull

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