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An ex- military sergeant has been sentenced to 180 days in jail for committing sexual assault against a teenage servicewoman who later died by suicide.

Sergeant Major the former sergeant, 43, restrained Royal Artillery Gunner the victim and tried to kiss her in July 2021. She was found dead several months after in her military accommodation at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

Webber, who was judged at the Court Martial Centre in the Wiltshire region previously, will be sent to a correctional facility and listed on sexual offenders list for a seven-year period.

The family matriarch Ms. Mcready stated: "His actions, and how the Army neglected to defend our young woman afterwards, resulted in her suicide."

Army Statement

The armed forces stated it did not listen to Gunner Beck, who was hailing from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she disclosed the incident and has apologised for its management of her report.

After an investigation of the tragic death, Webber admitted to the offense of sexual assault in the autumn.

The grieving parent stated her young woman ought to have been present with her family in the courtroom now, "to witness the individual she reported facing consequences for what he did."

"Rather, we appear in her absence, facing perpetual grief that no relatives should ever have to face," she stated further.

"She adhered to protocols, but those responsible neglected their responsibilities. These shortcomings shattered our child utterly."

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Judicial Process

The legal tribunal was advised that the assault took place during an field exercise at Thorney Island, near Hampshire's Emsworth, in summer 2021.

Webber, a ranking soldier at the time, made a sexual advance towards Gunner Beck following an evening of drinking while on assignment for a training exercise.

The victim claimed the accused said he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be alone" before making physical contact, holding her against her will, and making unwanted advances.

She made official allegations against the sergeant subsequent to the assault, regardless of pressure by commanding officers to persuade her not to.

An inquest into her suicide found the armed forces' response of the allegations played "an important contributory part in her death."

Parent's Account

In a account presented to the tribunal during proceedings, the parent, said: "The young woman had only become nineteen and will always be a youth full of life and laughter."

"She had faith authorities to safeguard her and after what he did, the confidence was gone. She was extremely troubled and scared of the sergeant."

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

Court Ruling

While delivering judgment, The judicial officer Alan Large stated: "We need to assess whether it can be addressed in an alternative approach. We are not convinced it can."

"We conclude the gravity of the crime means it can only be resolved by immediate custody."

He told Webber: "The victim had the courage and good sense to demand you halt and instructed you to go to bed, but you persisted to the extent she considered she could not feel secure from you even when she went back to her assigned barracks."

He continued: "The following day, she disclosed the assault to her family, her acquaintances and her commanding officers."

"After the complaint, the command opted to deal with you with minimal consequences."

"You were subject to inquiry and you admitted your actions had been improper. You wrote a letter of apology."

"Your professional path advanced completely unaffected and you were in due course promoted to higher rank."

Further Details

At the inquest into Gunner Beck's death, the investigating officer said a commanding officer influenced her to withdraw the complaint, and only reported it to a military leadership "once details became known."

At the time, Webber was given a "light disciplinary meeting" with no serious repercussions.

The inquiry was additionally informed that only a short time after the incident the servicewoman had additionally been subjected to "relentless harassment" by a different service member.

Another soldier, her superior officer, transmitted to her more than 4,600 SMS communications confessing his feelings for her, in addition to a 15-page "love story" outlining his "fantasies about her."

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Official Statement

The military leadership expressed it extended its "sincerest condolences" to the servicewoman and her loved ones.

"We remain deeply apologetic for the deficiencies that were discovered at the official inquiry in winter."

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