Former Sergeant Major Sentenced for Sexual Assault on 19-Year-Old Soldier
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An ex- Army sergeant major has been given 180 days in custody for committing sexual assault against a 19-year-old soldier who later took her own life.
Sergeant Major the former sergeant, 43, held down Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck and sought to force a kiss on her in mid-2021. She was discovered deceased several months after in her quarters at Larkhill, Wiltshire.
The convicted individual, who was sentenced at the Court Martial Centre in the Wiltshire region previously, will be sent to a public jail and listed on offender database for multiple years.
The family matriarch Ms. Mcready commented: "The assault, and how the military did not safeguard our child subsequently, resulted in her suicide."
Official Reaction
The military leadership said it failed to hear the soldier, who was a native of Cumbria's Oxen Park, when she filed the complaint and has said sorry for its response to her allegations.
After an inquest into the soldier's suicide, the accused pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault in the autumn.
The grieving parent commented her young woman could have been present with her loved ones in the courtroom today, "to witness the man she accused brought to justice for his actions."
"Conversely, we stand here without her, enduring endless sorrow that no family should ever have to face," she continued.
"She complied with procedures, but the individuals in charge neglected their responsibilities. These shortcomings destroyed our daughter completely."
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Legal Hearing
The legal tribunal was informed that the assault took place during an field exercise at the exercise site, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in summer 2021.
The sergeant, a Sergeant Major at the moment, initiated inappropriate contact towards the servicewoman subsequent to an evening of drinking while on deployment for a field training.
The victim stated Webber said he had been "seeking a chance for them to be by themselves" before grabbing her leg, holding her against her will, and attempting to force intimacy.
She made official allegations against the accused after the incident, regardless of pressure by superiors to persuade her not to.
A formal investigation into her passing found the Army's handling of the allegations played "an important contributing factor in her demise."
Mother's Testimony
In a testimony read out to the tribunal during proceedings, the parent, expressed: "Our daughter had recently celebrated a teenager and will forever remain a young person full of energy and happiness."
"She believed authorities to defend her and post-incident, the trust was shattered. She was deeply distressed and fearful of the accused."
"I saw the difference firsthand. She felt helpless and deceived. That incident destroyed her trust in the system that was meant to safeguard her."
Judge's Statement
During sentencing, Judge Advocate General the judge said: "We must evaluate whether it can be addressed in an alternative approach. We are not convinced it can."
"We are satisfied the severity of the offence means it can only be addressed by incarceration."
He spoke to the convicted individual: "She had the courage and good sense to tell you to stop and told you to go to bed, but you carried on to the point she considered she wouldn't be safe from you despite the fact she went back to her assigned barracks."
He added: "The subsequent morning, she made the complaint to her family, her friends and her military superiors."
"Subsequent to the allegations, the military unit opted to deal with you with minor administrative action."
"You were interviewed and you admitted your behavior had been unacceptable. You prepared a apology note."
"Your career proceeded completely unaffected and you were in due course advanced to higher rank."
Additional Context
At the inquest into the soldier's suicide, the coroner said Capt James Hook influenced her to cease proceedings, and only reported it to a higher command "when the cat was already out of the bag."
At the period, Webber was given a "minor administrative action interview" with no additional penalties.
The inquest was also told that just weeks after the assault Gunner Beck had additionally been facing "relentless harassment" by another soldier.
Another soldier, her superior officer, sent her more than 4,600 digital communications expressing emotions for her, along with a multi-page "love story" outlining his "personal thoughts."
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Institutional Response
The armed forces said it provided its "heartfelt apologies" to the servicewoman and her family.
"We remain profoundly sorry for the failings that were discovered at Jaysley's inquest in winter."
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