🔗 Share this article

Family Photo

A former service sergeant has been given 180 days in prison for attacking a teenage servicewoman who later ended her life.

Sergeant Major the former sergeant, 43, restrained service member the young woman and attempted to make physical contact in the summer of 2021. She was found dead half a year following in her quarters at the Wiltshire base.

The defendant, who was sentenced at the Court Martial Centre in the Wiltshire region previously, will be placed in a correctional facility and on the offender database for multiple years.

The victim's mother Leighann Mcready stated: "The assault, and how the military did not safeguard our child following the incident, cost Jaysley her life."

Army Statement

The Army acknowledged it failed to hear the soldier, who was hailing from Cumbria's Oxen Park, when she disclosed the incident and has apologised for its response to her report.

Following an inquest into Gunner Beck's death, the defendant confessed to a single charge of sexual assault in the autumn.

The grieving parent commented her young woman ought to have been alongside her family in court now, "to see the individual she filed against held accountable for his actions."

"Rather, we stand here in her absence, enduring endless sorrow that no relatives should ever experience," she stated further.

"She complied with procedures, but the individuals in charge failed in their duties. These shortcomings destroyed our daughter utterly."

Press Association

Court Proceedings

The judicial body was told that the assault took place during an military training at the exercise site, near the Hampshire area, in summer 2021.

Webber, a Sergeant Major at the time, initiated inappropriate contact towards Gunner Beck subsequent to an social gathering while on deployment for a military exercise.

Gunner Beck stated Webber stated he had been "seeking a chance for them to be by themselves" before making physical contact, holding her against her will, and making unwanted advances.

She filed a complaint against the sergeant subsequent to the assault, notwithstanding efforts by commanding officers to persuade her not to.

A formal investigation into her passing found the military's management of the allegations played "an important role in her suicide."

Mother's Testimony

In a account presented to the judicial body earlier, the parent, stated: "The young woman had recently celebrated a teenager and will forever remain a teenager full of life and laughter."

"She had faith individuals to safeguard her and following the assault, the trust was shattered. She was very upset and scared of the sergeant."

"I saw the difference before my own eyes. She felt powerless and betrayed. That assault shattered her faith in the system that was intended to look after her."

Court Ruling

While delivering judgment, The presiding judge the judge remarked: "We have to consider whether it can be dealt with in another way. We are not convinced it can."

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

He addressed the convicted individual: "The servicewoman had the courage and good sense to tell you to stop and directed you to go to bed, but you persisted to the degree she felt she would remain in danger from you even if she went back to her personal quarters."

He continued: "The subsequent morning, she disclosed the assault to her relatives, her acquaintances and her chain of command."

"After the complaint, the command chose to address your behavior with minor administrative action."

"You were interviewed and you accepted your actions had been improper. You prepared a written apology."

"Your military service proceeded without interruption and you were in due course elevated to higher rank."

Background Information

At the inquest into the soldier's suicide, the investigating officer said a commanding officer influenced her to cease proceedings, and only reported it to a military leadership "after information had leaked."

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

The inquiry was also told that mere weeks after the assault the servicewoman had also been subjected to "continuous bullying" by a different service member.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, her superior officer, sent her more than 4,600 digital communications declaring attachments for her, along with a 15-page "love story" describing his "fantasies about her."

Family archive

Institutional Response

The armed forces expressed it offered its "heartfelt apologies" to the soldier and her loved ones.

"We remain profoundly sorry for the shortcomings that were discovered at Jaysley's inquest in winter."

"{The end of|The conclusion of|The completion