Ex- Sergeant Imprisoned for Sexual Assault on 19-Year-Old Servicewoman

Family Snapshot

An ex- Army sergeant major has been given six months in custody for committing sexual assault against a young gunner who later died by suicide.

Warrant Officer the former sergeant, in his forties, restrained Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck and tried to force a kiss on her in the summer of 2021. She was located without signs of life five months later in her barracks at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

The defendant, who was given his punishment at the military court in Wiltshire recently, will be transferred to a correctional facility and registered as sex offenders register for a seven-year period.

The victim's mother Leighann Mcready stated: "The assault, and how the military failed to protect our young woman afterwards, led to her death."

Army Statement

The military leadership said it failed to hear the servicewoman, who was originally from the Cumbrian village, when she reported the assault and has apologised for its management of her complaint.

Subsequent to an investigation of Gunner Beck's death, Webber pleaded guilty to one count of unwanted sexual advance in the autumn.

The grieving parent stated her young woman could have been alongside her loved ones in legal proceedings today, "to see the individual she reported brought to justice for his actions."

"Instead, we are present in her absence, enduring endless sorrow that no family should ever experience," she stated further.

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

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Court Proceedings

The court was informed that the assault occurred during an military training at the exercise site, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in summer 2021.

The sergeant, a ranking soldier at the moment, made a sexual advance towards the servicewoman following an social gathering while on assignment for a field training.

Gunner Beck testified the sergeant said he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be by themselves" before making physical contact, holding her against her will, and making unwanted advances.

She made official allegations against the sergeant after the assault, notwithstanding efforts by military leadership to convince her against reporting.

An official inquiry into her death found the military's management of the report played "a significant role in her demise."

Family Statement

In a statement shared to the tribunal earlier, the mother, stated: "She had recently celebrated 19 and will always be a teenager full of life and laughter."

"She had faith people to protect her and following the assault, the trust was gone. She was deeply distressed and fearful of the accused."

"I witnessed the difference personally. She felt helpless and deceived. That assault destroyed her faith in the set-up that was meant to look after her."

Judge's Statement

During sentencing, The presiding judge the magistrate said: "We must evaluate whether it can be handled in an alternative approach. We do not believe it can."

"We conclude the severity of the violation means it can only be addressed by immediate custody."

He told the defendant: "The servicewoman had the courage and good sense to demand you halt and told you to leave the area, but you persisted to the extent she felt she could not feel secure from you despite the fact she retreated to her assigned barracks."

He continued: "The next morning, she reported the incident to her loved ones, her companions and her commanding officers."

"Following the report, the unit opted to deal with you with minimal consequences."

"You were interviewed and you acknowledged your conduct had been unacceptable. You prepared a apology note."

"Your career advanced without interruption and you were in due course elevated to senior position."

Further Details

At the inquest into the tragic passing, the coroner said military leadership put pressure on her to cease proceedings, and only reported it to a military leadership "when the cat was already out of the bag."

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

The inquiry was further advised that only a short time after the incident Gunner Beck had also been facing "relentless harassment" by another soldier.

Another soldier, her line manager, directed toward her over four thousand six hundred text messages expressing emotions for her, accompanied by a 15-page "love story" describing his "fantasies about her."

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Organizational Reaction

The Army stated it extended its "heartfelt apologies" to the soldier and her relatives.

"We continue to be deeply apologetic for the deficiencies that were identified at the official inquiry in February."

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