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An ex- service sergeant has been ordered to serve 180 days in jail for sexually assaulting a teenage servicewoman who later ended her life.

Warrant Officer the former sergeant, in his forties, pinned down Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck and attempted to kiss her in mid-2021. She was found dead several months after in her quarters at the Wiltshire base.

The convicted individual, who was sentenced at the legal proceedings in Wiltshire earlier, will be sent to a public jail and listed on sexual offenders list for multiple years.

The family matriarch Ms. Mcready remarked: "What he [Webber] did, and how the military failed to protect our child afterwards, cost Jaysley her life."

Official Reaction

The armed forces stated it failed to hear the servicewoman, who was a native of the Cumbrian village, when she disclosed the incident and has said sorry for its management of her report.

After an inquest into the tragic death, the accused pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault in September.

The grieving parent said her child could have been present with her relatives in the courtroom this day, "to see the individual she reported held accountable for his actions."

"Rather, we appear without her, living a life sentence that no loved ones should be forced to endure," she continued.

"She complied with procedures, but those responsible neglected their responsibilities. These shortcomings destroyed our daughter completely."

PA

Court Proceedings

The legal tribunal was advised that the assault took place during an field exercise at the exercise site, near the Hampshire area, in mid-2021.

Webber, a ranking soldier at the time, made a sexual advance towards the soldier subsequent to an evening of drinking while on duty for a military exercise.

The servicewoman testified Webber remarked he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be alone" before making physical contact, pinning her down, and making unwanted advances.

She made official allegations against the sergeant after the incident, regardless of pressure by military leadership to convince her against reporting.

An inquest into her suicide found the Army's handling of the complaint played "more than a minimal role in her death."

Family Statement

In a testimony shared to the court previously, Ms McCready, said: "She had recently celebrated 19 and will forever remain a young person full of energy and happiness."

"She had faith individuals to defend her and post-incident, the confidence was gone. She was deeply distressed and terrified of the accused."

"I saw the transformation firsthand. She felt powerless and betrayed. That incident shattered her trust in the structure that was intended to protect her."

Court Ruling

When announcing the verdict, Judge Advocate General the judge stated: "We have to consider whether it can be addressed in an alternative approach. We are not convinced it can."

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

He spoke to Webber: "The victim had the courage and good sense to tell you to stop and told you to retire for the night, but you carried on to the point she believed she wouldn't be safe from you despite the fact she returned to her own accommodation."

He stated further: "The next morning, she made the complaint to her relatives, her companions and her commanding officers."

"After the complaint, the unit opted to address your behavior with minimal consequences."

"You underwent questioning and you admitted your actions had been improper. You prepared a written apology."

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

Additional Context

At the investigation into Gunner Beck's death, the investigating officer said Capt James Hook influenced her to cease proceedings, and only reported it to a higher command "once details became known."

At the period, the accused was given a "minimal consequence discussion" with no serious repercussions.

The investigation was additionally informed that only a short time after the assault Gunner Beck had also been subjected to "relentless harassment" by another soldier.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, her superior officer, transmitted to her more than 4,600 digital communications declaring attachments for her, accompanied by a 15-page "romantic narrative" describing his "fantasies about her."

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Organizational Reaction

The armed forces expressed it extended its "deepest sympathies" to the servicewoman and her relatives.

"We remain profoundly sorry for the shortcomings that were identified at the formal investigation in early this year."

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