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Family Snapshot

An ex- military sergeant has been sentenced to six months in custody for attacking a teenage servicewoman who subsequently ended her life.

Sergeant Major the former sergeant, forty-three, pinned down soldier the victim and tried to make physical contact in the summer of 2021. She was discovered deceased half a year following in her military accommodation at the Wiltshire base.

Webber, who was judged at the military court in the Wiltshire region recently, will be placed in a public jail and on the sex offenders register for a seven-year period.

The family matriarch the mother commented: "What he [Webber] did, and how the military did not safeguard our young woman subsequently, cost Jaysley her life."

Official Reaction

The military leadership stated it did not listen to Gunner Beck, who was hailing from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she filed the complaint and has apologised for its response to her report.

After an inquest into Gunner Beck's death, Webber admitted to the offense of unwanted sexual advance in September.

The grieving parent stated her daughter could have been sitting with her loved ones in court now, "to observe the man she reported facing consequences for what he did."

"Rather, we stand here in her absence, enduring endless sorrow that no loved ones should be forced to endure," she continued.

"She complied with procedures, but the accountable parties didn't follow theirs. These shortcomings shattered our child totally."

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Judicial Process

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

The accused, a senior officer at the moment, made a sexual advance towards the soldier following an social gathering while on duty for a training exercise.

The servicewoman stated Webber said he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be alone" before grabbing her leg, pinning her down, and attempting to force intimacy.

She reported the incident against the accused subsequent to the violation, notwithstanding efforts by commanding officers to persuade her not to.

An inquest into her passing found the Army's handling of the report played "more than a minimal contributory part in her suicide."

Parent's Account

In a account read out to the judicial body during proceedings, the parent, stated: "Our daughter had just turned 19 and will always be a young person full of energy and happiness."

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

"I witnessed the transformation personally. She felt vulnerable and abandoned. That incident destroyed her trust in the structure that was intended to look after her."

Judge's Statement

While delivering judgment, Judge Advocate General the judge remarked: "We need to assess whether it can be handled in an alternative approach. We are not convinced it can."

"We are satisfied the gravity of the offence means it can only be addressed by immediate custody."

He addressed the defendant: "The servicewoman had the courage and good sense to demand you halt and instructed you to retire for the night, but you carried on to the extent she believed she would remain in danger from you despite the fact she retreated to her own accommodation."

He continued: "The next morning, she reported the incident to her loved ones, her acquaintances and her chain of command."

"Subsequent to the allegations, the unit opted to deal with you with minor administrative action."

"You were subject to inquiry and you acknowledged your conduct had been improper. You composed a apology note."

"Your professional path proceeded unimpeded and you were eventually advanced to higher rank."

Further Details

At the inquest into the tragic passing, the official examiner said military leadership put pressure on her to cease proceedings, and only reported it to a superior officers "once details became known."

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

The inquiry was also told that just weeks after the incident the servicewoman had further been subjected to "relentless harassment" by a separate individual.

Another soldier, her commanding individual, directed toward her numerous SMS communications expressing emotions for her, accompanied by a multi-page "romantic narrative" detailing his "fantasies about her."

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Institutional Response

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

"We continue to be sincerely regretful for the deficiencies that were identified at the formal investigation in early this year."

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