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An ex- military sergeant has been given six months in custody for attacking a young gunner who afterwards took her own life.

Warrant Officer the former sergeant, 43, held down soldier Jaysley Beck and tried to force a kiss on her in mid-2021. She was discovered deceased several months after in her quarters at the Wiltshire base.

The defendant, who was judged at the legal proceedings in Wiltshire earlier, will be transferred to a public jail and on the sexual offenders list for seven years.

The victim's mother Ms. Mcready remarked: "The assault, and how the military failed to protect our daughter afterwards, cost Jaysley her life."

Army Statement

The armed forces acknowledged it did not listen to Gunner Beck, who was hailing from Oxen Park in Cumbria, when she filed the complaint and has apologised for its management of her allegations.

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

Ms McCready commented her young woman should have been present with her family in legal proceedings today, "to see the person she filed against held accountable for the assault."

"Instead, we are present missing her, facing perpetual grief that no relatives should ever have to face," she continued.

"She followed the rules, but those responsible failed in their duties. These shortcomings destroyed our daughter utterly."

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Judicial Process

The judicial body was advised that the incident happened during an field exercise at the exercise site, near Hampshire's Emsworth, in July 2021.

The sergeant, a Sergeant Major at the period, attempted physical intimacy towards the soldier following an evening of drinking while on assignment for a field training.

Gunner Beck testified the sergeant stated he had been "waiting for a moment for them to be in private" before grabbing her leg, holding her against her will, and trying to kiss her.

She made official allegations against the accused following the incident, notwithstanding efforts by superiors to convince her against reporting.

An inquest into her death found the Army's handling of the complaint played "an important contributory part in her death."

Family Statement

In a testimony shared to the court previously, the parent, stated: "Our daughter had just turned a teenager and will eternally stay a young person full of life and laughter."

"She trusted people to protect her and post-incident, the trust was gone. She was deeply distressed and fearful of the accused."

"I witnessed the transformation firsthand. She felt vulnerable and abandoned. That violation shattered her trust in the system that was meant to safeguard her."

Sentencing Remarks

When announcing the verdict, The judicial officer the judge remarked: "We need to assess whether it can be handled in another way. We do not believe it can."

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

He told Webber: "She had the courage and good sense to tell you to stop and instructed you to go to bed, but you continued to the degree she considered she wouldn't be safe from you despite the fact she returned to her assigned barracks."

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

"After the complaint, the unit chose to handle the situation with minor administrative action."

"You underwent questioning and you admitted your conduct had been improper. You prepared a letter of apology."

"Your military service proceeded without interruption and you were subsequently advanced to higher rank."

Additional Context

At the inquest into the tragic passing, the investigating officer said military leadership put pressure on her to cease proceedings, and merely disclosed it to a higher command "once details became known."

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

The investigation was also told that just weeks after the assault the soldier had also been exposed to "relentless harassment" by a different service member.

Another soldier, her line manager, directed toward her more than 4,600 digital communications confessing his feelings for her, along with a 15-page "personal account" describing his "fantasies about her."

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Organizational Reaction

The Army stated it provided its "heartfelt apologies" to Gunner Beck and her family.

"We will always be profoundly sorry for the failings that were noted at Jaysley's inquest in early this year."

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