Overview
- Former Warrant Officer Michael Webber, 43, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the 19-year-old and was sentenced to six months in custody by a Court Martial last week.
- The incident was not reported to civilian police at the time, and Webber wrote an apology letter and was later promoted, according to accounts reported from the case.
- Defence Secretary John Healey said there is “new determination” to ensure the military does not fail women in similar circumstances.
- The Ministry of Defence points to a serious crime command, a violence against women and girls taskforce, and an agreement in principle to move serious-complaint handling outside the individual services.
- Beck’s mother and the family’s solicitor say improvements have not changed practice on the ground, as a senior general apologized for not listening to Beck and the inquest found the failings contributed to her death.