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Family Snapshot

A former service sergeant has been given six months in prison for sexually assaulting a young gunner who later ended her life.

Warrant Officer Michael Webber, in his forties, restrained service member the victim and attempted to force a kiss on her in mid-2021. She was located without signs of life five months later in her military accommodation at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

Webber, who was judged at the military court in Wiltshire previously, will be sent to a correctional facility and registered as offender database for a seven-year period.

Gunner Beck's mother Ms. Mcready remarked: "What he [Webber] did, and how the Army failed to protect our daughter subsequently, led to her death."

Military Response

The Army said it ignored Gunner Beck, who was originally from Cumbria's Oxen Park, when she filed the complaint and has expressed regret for its handling of her complaint.

After an inquest into the tragic death, the defendant confessed to one count of sexual assault in the autumn.

Ms McCready stated her young woman could have been alongside her family in the courtroom now, "to see the individual she accused facing consequences for the assault."

"Instead, we stand here missing her, facing perpetual grief that no family should ever have to face," she added.

"She complied with procedures, but the individuals in charge neglected their responsibilities. These shortcomings broke our young woman completely."

PA

Court Proceedings

The legal tribunal was informed that the violation took place during an adventure training exercise at the training location, near the Hampshire area, in summer 2021.

The accused, a Sergeant Major at the moment, made a sexual advance towards the servicewoman after an alcohol consumption while on assignment for a field training.

The victim claimed the accused stated he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be alone" before grabbing her leg, restraining her, and trying to kiss her.

She made official allegations against the sergeant following the assault, regardless of pressure by military leadership to persuade her not to.

An official inquiry into her passing found the military's management of the report played "more than a minimal role in her demise."

Mother's Testimony

In a account read out to the court earlier, the parent, said: "She had recently celebrated a teenager and will always be a youth full of vitality and joy."

"She had faith individuals to protect her and after what he did, the trust was shattered. She was deeply distressed and scared of the accused."

"I saw the change personally. She felt powerless and betrayed. That violation destroyed her trust in the set-up that was intended to look after her."

Judge's Statement

During sentencing, Judge Advocate General the magistrate said: "We must evaluate whether it can be addressed in another way. We are not convinced it can."

"We conclude the seriousness of the crime means it can only be addressed by prison time."

He told the defendant: "The servicewoman had the strength and intelligence to demand you halt and told you to retire for the night, but you persisted to the point she considered she wouldn't be safe from you despite the fact she went back to her personal quarters."

He added: "The next morning, she disclosed the assault to her relatives, her friends and her chain of command."

"Following the report, the unit chose to handle the situation with minor administrative action."

"You underwent questioning and you acknowledged your conduct had been inappropriate. You prepared a letter of apology."

"Your military service proceeded unimpeded and you were subsequently advanced to higher rank."

Additional Context

At the investigation into the soldier's suicide, the investigating officer said a commanding officer put pressure on her to drop the allegations, and just informed it to a superior officers "when the cat was already out of the bag."

At the period, the accused was given a "light disciplinary meeting" with no further consequences.

The inquiry was additionally informed that mere weeks after the violation Gunner Beck had additionally been subjected to "continuous bullying" by a different service member.

Another soldier, her commanding individual, sent her over four thousand six hundred SMS communications expressing emotions for her, in addition to a 15-page "love story" describing his "imagined scenarios."

Personal collection

Official Statement

The armed forces expressed it extended its "heartfelt apologies" to the servicewoman and her family.

"We will always be sincerely regretful for the shortcomings that were discovered at the formal investigation in early this year."

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