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Family Snapshot

A former military sergeant has been sentenced to 180 days in prison for sexually assaulting a young gunner who subsequently ended her life.

Sergeant Major Michael Webber, forty-three, held down soldier the young woman and tried to force a kiss on her in mid-2021. She was located without signs of life five months later in her barracks at Larkhill military installation.

Webber, who was given his punishment at the military court in Wiltshire recently, will be sent to a civilian prison and on the sexual offenders list for seven years.

The victim's mother Ms. Mcready remarked: "His actions, and how the Army neglected to defend our child subsequently, led to her death."

Military Response

The military leadership acknowledged it did not listen to Gunner Beck, who was originally from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she disclosed the incident and has expressed regret for its response to her report.

Subsequent to an investigation of the tragic death, the accused confessed to a single charge of sexual assault in the autumn.

Ms McCready commented her child could have been present with her loved ones in court now, "to witness the individual she accused brought to justice for what he did."

"Rather, we stand here in her absence, enduring endless sorrow that no relatives should be forced to endure," she stated further.

"She complied with procedures, but those responsible didn't follow theirs. These shortcomings broke our young woman utterly."

PA

Court Proceedings

The judicial body was advised that the incident occurred during an field exercise at the exercise site, near the Hampshire area, in summer 2021.

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

The servicewoman claimed the accused remarked he had been "anticipating an opportunity for them to be in private" before making physical contact, pinning her down, and trying to kiss her.

She filed a complaint against Webber after the violation, regardless of pressure by commanding officers to convince her against reporting.

An inquest into her death found the armed forces' response of the report played "a significant contributory part in her demise."

Parent's Account

In a statement shared to the tribunal previously, Ms McCready, expressed: "Our daughter had just turned a teenager and will always be a youth full of energy and happiness."

"She had faith people to defend her and following the assault, the confidence was shattered. She was very upset and terrified of Michael Webber."

"I saw the transformation firsthand. She felt helpless and deceived. That violation shattered her trust in the structure that was intended to look after her."

Judge's Statement

When announcing the verdict, Judge Advocate General the magistrate remarked: "We need to assess whether it can be addressed in a different manner. We do not believe it can."

"We have determined the seriousness of the offence means it can only be addressed by prison time."

He spoke to Webber: "The servicewoman had the strength and intelligence to tell you to stop and directed you to go to bed, but you persisted to the extent she felt she would remain in danger from you even if she retreated to her assigned barracks."

He added: "The next morning, she made the complaint to her relatives, her acquaintances and her military superiors."

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

"You underwent questioning and you acknowledged your behavior had been improper. You wrote a letter of apology."

"Your military service advanced without interruption and you were subsequently elevated to senior position."

Additional Context

At the formal inquiry into the tragic passing, the official examiner said a commanding officer put pressure on her to cease proceedings, and merely disclosed it to a superior officers "after information had leaked."

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

The inquiry was additionally informed that mere weeks after the assault the soldier had further been subjected to "relentless harassment" by a separate individual.

Bombardier Ryan Mason, her commanding individual, sent her more than 4,600 SMS communications expressing emotions for her, in addition to a multi-page "personal account" describing his "fantasies about her."

Personal collection

Institutional Response

The armed forces stated it offered its "deepest sympathies" to Gunner Beck and her family.

"We will always be sincerely regretful for the deficiencies that were noted at the official inquiry in winter."

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