Teenage Soldier’s death linked to ‘Psychotic and possessive’ behaviour from supervisor, Inquest hears

An inquest into the death of Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck has revealed disturbing details about the intense and unwelcome behaviour she endured from her superior, Bombardier Ryan Mason, in the months leading up to her tragic death.

Gunner Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on 15 December 2021, with the inquest showing that her death may have been directly influenced by the toxic and persistent harassment from Mr. Mason.

The inquest heard that the young soldier had complained about feeling unsafe at work, with her mother, Leighann McCready, revealing that her daughter had expressed these concerns before her death.

“I did not feel safe at work,” Gunner Beck’s mother said during the hearing. “She was becoming more and more withdrawn, and we could see something was deeply wrong.”

The court was shown a series of messages exchanged between Gunner Beck and Mr. Mason, spanning from October to December 2021. In these messages, Mr. Mason’s increasingly possessive and obsessive behaviour became evident.

One of his messages, sent on 21 October, read: “Love you Jayse. As a friend.” On 11 November, he sent another message, saying: “You’re amazing Jayse, I appreciate you so much, I love everything about you, even your flaws. I will always be there along for the ride with you, I have said it before but you’re stuck with me forever now. I love you as a friend, I love you.”

Leighann McCready explained how her daughter became “freaked out” by this excessive contact, stating, “Ryan Mason was overstepping the mark of her friendliness and her nature. This was Jayse’s impression, and she made us aware that he was becoming a creep.”

On 25 November, Gunner Beck directly confronted Mr. Mason in a message:

“This whole falling in love with me, it’s becoming a bit too much. It’s weighing me down a little bit. Totally honest here, I just don’t want to hear how you feel about me.”

She also expressed growing fear that Mr. Mason was watching her, writing, “When you said you seen me leave camp I was a bit taken back, like are you watching me? It’s just weird and the whole thing is just bizarre.”

As the messages became more alarming, Gunner Beck began to fear for her safety. Her mother recalled a conversation they had, during which Gunner Beck confided that she believed Mr. Mason was tracking her phone.

“Mum, I think he’s hacked my phone, because he knows exactly where I am standing and he’s meant to be away,” Ms. McCready said, recalling her daughter’s distress.

In a drafted text message to Mr. Mason, which she ultimately did not send, Gunner Beck expressed feeling trapped and overwhelmed by the situation. “It’s possessive and psychotic, you have to understand it’s not normal behaviour. I am struggling to deal with all of this. It’s taking a huge toll on my own mental health for many personal reasons. I need time out.”

Gunner Beck’s colleague, Bombardier John Wheeler, who was close to her, described her as a “bubbly person” but said that in the weeks leading up to her death, she had become “more and more down.”

He also revealed that she had shared with him excerpts from a “love story” written by Mr. Mason, where the characters were thinly veiled representations of Gunner Beck and Mr. Mason. He stated that he believed this material amounted to sexual harassment.

The inquest also heard evidence of a prior incident from the summer of 2021, when Gunner Beck reported being assaulted by a sergeant during a team-building event in Hampshire. Ms. McCready explained that her daughter had been so frightened after the assault that she slept in her car that night, unable to return to her room.

The sergeant involved received a minor sanction, which angered Gunner Beck. “She felt like she had no one to turn to,” her mother said, adding that the sergeant’s apology and the comment that his “door was open” for her only deepened her daughter’s frustration.

Internal service inquiry

The Army’s internal service inquiry report noted that these previous experiences may have contributed to Gunner Beck’s failure to report further troubling events.

The report also outlined other factors that might have played a role in her death, including the emotional strain caused by a relationship with a married colleague that ended in November 2021, repeated allegations of unfaithfulness, and unhealthy drinking habits.

Despite these challenges, the report confirmed that Gunner Beck had no diagnosed mental health conditions and had not sought support from the Army welfare services.

Gunner Beck’s story is a reminder of the importance of addressing harassment and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, particularly in high-pressure environments like the military. Her mother’s testimony paints a heartbreaking picture of a young soldier who, despite her efforts to remain strong, felt increasingly isolated and unsafe in her environment.

The inquest continues, with the hope that further evidence will lead to greater accountability and changes that will protect others from experiencing similar harm in the future.

If you have been a victim of harassment in the workplace, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Contact Oakwood Solicitors Ltd today for a free no-obligation consultation with one of our experts.

Further reading

Bullying and harassment – Oakwood Solicitors

Workplace bullying and harassment – Gov.uk

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