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Family Snapshot

An ex- military sergeant has been given half a year in custody for committing sexual assault against a 19-year-old soldier who afterwards ended her life.

Warrant Officer the former sergeant, in his forties, pinned down soldier the young woman and sought to make physical contact in mid-2021. She was discovered deceased half a year following in her quarters at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

Webber, who was given his punishment at the legal proceedings in Wiltshire previously, will be transferred to a public jail and on the sex offenders register for multiple years.

The family matriarch Leighann Mcready commented: "What he [Webber] did, and how the military neglected to defend our young woman afterwards, resulted in her suicide."

Army Statement

The armed forces acknowledged it ignored the servicewoman, who was originally from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she filed the complaint and has apologised for its management of her complaint.

Subsequent to a formal inquiry regarding Gunner Beck's death, the accused pleaded guilty to a single charge of physical violation in September.

Ms McCready stated her daughter could have been sitting with her relatives in court now, "to see the individual she reported brought to justice for his actions."

"Rather, we appear without her, enduring endless sorrow that no relatives should ever experience," she continued.

"She adhered to protocols, but the accountable parties failed in their duties. Such negligence destroyed our daughter utterly."

PA

Legal Hearing

The judicial body was told that the violation occurred during an military training at Thorney Island, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in summer 2021.

The accused, a ranking soldier at the time, attempted physical intimacy towards the servicewoman following an social gathering while on deployment for a field training.

Gunner Beck testified the accused stated he had been "waiting for a moment for them to be in private" before grabbing her leg, restraining her, and trying to kiss her.

She reported the incident against the sergeant after the violation, regardless of pressure by superiors to convince her against reporting.

An inquest into her suicide found the military's management of the complaint played "an important contributing factor in her suicide."

Mother's Testimony

In a statement presented to the court previously, Ms McCready, stated: "Our daughter had just turned nineteen and will eternally stay a young person full of energy and happiness."

"She trusted authorities to safeguard her and after what he did, the confidence was lost. She was very upset and scared of Michael Webber."

"I witnessed the difference before my own eyes. She felt helpless and deceived. That incident broke her trust in the set-up that was meant to protect her."

Sentencing Remarks

While delivering judgment, Judge Advocate General Alan Large said: "We have to consider whether it can be handled in an alternative approach. We do not believe it can."

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

He spoke to the convicted individual: "She had the bravery and wisdom to instruct you to cease and instructed you to retire for the night, but you continued to the point she felt she would remain in danger from you even when she retreated to her personal quarters."

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

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

"You underwent questioning and you accepted your behavior had been improper. You prepared a letter of apology."

"Your professional path continued unimpeded and you were subsequently elevated to senior position."

Background Information

At the formal inquiry into the soldier's suicide, the official examiner said military leadership influenced her to cease proceedings, and just informed it to a higher command "after information had leaked."

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

The inquiry was also told that only a short time after the incident the servicewoman had also been exposed to "continuous bullying" by a separate individual.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, her line manager, directed toward her more than 4,600 text messages declaring attachments for her, in addition to a fifteen-page "love story" detailing his "imagined scenarios."

Personal collection

Official Statement

The Army expressed it extended its "sincerest condolences" to the soldier and her relatives.

"We remain profoundly sorry for the shortcomings that were identified at the official inquiry in winter."

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