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A former service sergeant has been ordered to serve six months in custody for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old soldier who afterwards ended her life.

Warrant Officer Michael Webber, forty-three, pinned down soldier the victim and tried to make physical contact in mid-2021. She was found dead several months after in her military accommodation at Larkhill military installation.

Webber, who was judged at the military court in Wiltshire earlier, will be transferred to a correctional facility and on the sexual offenders list for multiple years.

Gunner Beck's mother Leighann Mcready commented: "What he [Webber] did, and how the armed forces neglected to defend our child afterwards, resulted in her suicide."

Army Statement

The Army said it failed to hear Gunner Beck, who was originally from the Cumbrian village, when she disclosed the incident and has apologised for its handling of her complaint.

Following an inquest into the tragic death, the defendant pleaded guilty to the offense of physical violation in last fall.

Ms McCready stated her child could have been sitting with her relatives in legal proceedings now, "to witness the individual she accused brought to justice for the assault."

"Instead, we are present missing her, facing perpetual grief that no loved ones should ever experience," she stated further.

"She followed the rules, but the individuals in charge neglected their responsibilities. Such negligence broke our young woman totally."

PA

Court Proceedings

The legal tribunal was advised that the assault took place during an field exercise at the training location, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in July 2021.

The accused, a senior officer at the period, initiated inappropriate contact towards Gunner Beck after an alcohol consumption while on duty for a training exercise.

The victim testified the accused remarked he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be by themselves" before taking hold of her, restraining her, and attempting to force intimacy.

She filed a complaint against the sergeant subsequent to the assault, despite attempts by military leadership to discourage her.

A formal investigation into her death found the military's management of the complaint played "more than a minimal contributing factor in her death."

Parent's Account

In a testimony read out to the judicial body previously, Ms McCready, stated: "The young woman had recently celebrated 19 and will forever remain a teenager full of life and laughter."

"She trusted people to protect her and following the assault, the faith was lost. She was very upset and fearful of the sergeant."

"I witnessed the difference firsthand. She felt vulnerable and abandoned. That assault destroyed her trust in the set-up that was supposed to look after her."

Sentencing Remarks

During sentencing, The presiding judge the magistrate remarked: "We must evaluate whether it can be handled in another way. We do not consider it can."

"We are satisfied the severity of the violation means it can only be dealt with by incarceration."

He spoke to Webber: "The servicewoman had the courage and good sense to demand you halt and instructed you to retire for the night, but you continued to the point she felt she could not feel secure from you even when she retreated to her assigned barracks."

He continued: "The following day, she reported the incident to her family, her acquaintances and her military superiors."

"Subsequent to the allegations, the unit opted to handle the situation with light disciplinary measures."

"You were subject to inquiry and you accepted your behavior had been unacceptable. You composed a apology note."

"Your career advanced without interruption and you were eventually advanced to Warrant Officer 1."

Further Details

At the formal inquiry into the tragic passing, the official examiner said military leadership put pressure on her to cease proceedings, and just informed it to a higher command "after information had leaked."

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

The investigation was further advised that mere weeks after the assault the soldier had further been subjected to "relentless harassment" by a different service member.

Another soldier, her commanding individual, transmitted to her numerous text messages declaring attachments for her, accompanied by a fifteen-page "personal account" detailing his "personal thoughts."

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Official Statement

The Army said it offered its "heartfelt apologies" to the servicewoman and her family.

"We continue to be profoundly sorry for the failings that were noted at the formal investigation in February."

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