Overview
- A military court in Bulford sentenced Michael Webber to six months’ imprisonment, ordered him to serve half in custody, and placed him on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.
- Beck reported that during a July 2021 training stay at Thorney Island, Webber tried to kiss her and touched her thigh, leaving her so frightened she hid and slept in her car before reporting the incident.
- Her chain of command handled the complaint as a minor administrative matter, took no police action, and had Webber write an apology letter before his subsequent promotion.
- In February, Assistant Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg ruled the Army’s failure to take appropriate action and to involve police more than minimally contributed to Beck’s death.
- After the family pushed for a review, Wiltshire Police referred the case to military prosecutors, leading to Webber’s charge and guilty plea, as the family now calls for independent oversight and the Army says reforms are underway.