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A tragic incident within the Army has come to light, involving a former Army Sergeant Major who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a female soldier who later took her life. Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, aged 19, was found deceased in her barracks in Larkhill, Wiltshire, after reporting a complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber. The incident occurred when Webber pinned her down and attempted to kiss her at a work social event. The handling of Gunner Beck’s complaint by the Army was deemed to have played a significant role in her tragic death.
During a pre-trial hearing, Webber, who has left the Army, admitted guilt to one count of sexual assault. Gunner Beck’s mother expressed relief that Webber acknowledged his wrongdoing, sparing the family further legal proceedings. However, the loss of their daughter remains a devastating reality. Despite attempts by superiors to dissuade Gunner Beck from reporting the assault, she bravely spoke up, following the appropriate procedure. Her mother emphasized the failure of the Army’s chain of command in not escalating the sexual assault to the police, a decision that may have altered the tragic outcome.
An inquest revealed that pressure was exerted on Gunner Beck to drop the allegations, resulting in a delayed report to higher command. Miscommunication within the chain of command led to crucial details of Webber’s actions being overlooked, with the incident being labeled as “inappropriate behavior unbecoming of a warrant officer.” Bombardier Ryan Mason, Gunner Beck’s line manager, subjected her to relentless harassment, sending an excessive number of messages expressing his feelings and fantasies about her, further adding to her distress.
Following the inquest, Gunner Beck’s family pursued criminal proceedings against Webber, leading to his charge with sexual assault. The Army, acknowledging its failure in handling the situation appropriately, issued an apology to Gunner Beck’s family. With revised policies in place, the Army aims to enforce zero tolerance towards unacceptable sexual behaviors. While the guilty plea brought some relief to Gunner Beck’s family, their solicitor pointed out the missed opportunity for a different outcome if the Army had responded effectively to the initial assault report
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