'Assault appeal decision sends devastating message'

The mother of a teenage soldier says the decision not to review the sentence of a former Army sergeant who sexually assaulted her child is an "insult" and sends a "devastating message".

Former Warrant Officer Michael Webber, 43, was jailed for six months after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting Gunner Jaysley Beck. The 19-year-old, from Cumbria, was found hanged at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in 2021.

Complaints were made to The Attorney General's office asking for a review under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, but this has now been rejected.

Solicitor General Ellie Reeves said: "After careful consideration, I concluded this case could not be properly referred to the Court of Appeal."

Gunner Beck's mother Leighann McCready said Webber's six-month sentence feels like an insult after she spent years fighting for justice.

"No sentence would ever have come close to justice for what Jaysley went through or what we've lost.

"A man in a position of authority targeted a young woman half his age, a teenager, someone who trusted the system she served.

"That breach of trust had devastating consequences. And for that abuse of power, he'll serve only a few short weeks.

"It sends a devastating message to every young woman serving today that their lives and safety are worth less than a man's career," Ms McCready added.

An inquest into Gunner Beck's death heard that Webber engaged her in a drinking game before touching her thigh and pinned her down and tried to kiss her following a work Christmas party.

She pushed him away and spent the night locked in her car before complaining to her superior officers in the morning.

The incident was not reported to police and Webber, who wrote a letter of apology to Gunner Beck, was later promoted.

The coroner ruled the sexual assault and the Army's failure to take appropriate action "more than minimally" contributed to her suicide.

A referral under the ULS scheme to the Court of Appeal can only be made if a sentence is not just lenient but unduly so, such that the sentencing judge made a gross error or imposed a sentence outside the range of sentences reasonably available in the circumstances of the offence.

Roughly 33% of the 139 cases reviewed under the ULS scheme in 2023 did not result in any change to the original sentence.

Solicitor General Reeves said in her statement that "Gunner Jaysley Beck deserved better".

"Unacceptable criminal and sexual offending has no place in our armed forces," she added.

"All those who choose to serve our country, particularly our newest recruits, must be able to do so free from abuse, and with the dignity and respect they deserve.

"The Army accepted the failings identified by the Service Inquiry and responded to the recommendations to improve Service life across its culture, policies, and practices," she added.

The Army has since apologised for its handling of Jaysley's complaint.

The Ministry of Defence has set up a serious crime command and launched a Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce, and has agreed in principle to remove the handling of complaints from the individual services.

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