The British Army’s failure to properly deal with a soldier’s sexual assault complaint played “more than a minimal” role in her death, a coroner has said.
Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead in her room at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on 15 December 2021.
An inquest on Thursday recorded a conclusion of suicide “after a prolonged period of stress after harassment by her line management and problems with a relationship”.
Ryan Mason. Pic : Solent News
Gunner Beck complained to her family about thousands of unwanted messages from her line manager, Ryan Mason, in the months leading up to her death.
He also wrote a 14-page document detailing his “feelings towards Jaysley” and paid for rooms next to each other during a work trip before she died, the inquest heard.
Jaysley Beck was said to have been bombarded by messages from her line manager
Wiltshire Police told the inquest evidence did not support a harassment case against Mr Mason, who is now a driving instructor.
Gunner Beck also formally complained to the army about the behaviour of former battery sergeant Major Michael Webber, then 39.
She said he had pinned her down and tried to kiss her after a drinking game during a team-building event in July 2021.
Gunner Beck, who joined the army at 16, ended up sleeping in her car as she was so scared, the hearing in Salisbury was told.
Mr Webber was given a “minor sanction” and wrote an apology letter – but was later promoted to Warrant Officer 2 rank.
Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said on Thursday the army should have reported the alleged incident to police instead of treating it with a “minor administrative action”.
He said this failure was “more than a minimal contributory factor” in Gunner Beck’s death.
The soldier hid in her car after an alleged assault by another colleague, the inquest heard
An army report in October 2023 described “an intense period of unwelcome behaviour” and said it was “almost certain this was a causal factor” in her death.
Staff Sergeant Cory Budd, who said he had been in a relationship with Gunner Beck at the time of her death – while he was still married – found her body.
Police concluded there was no third-party involvement.
The coroner said that despite Jaysley being three times over the drink-drive limit when she died, he was satisfied she had still intended to take her own life.
Jaysley Beck with her mum
‘She should still be here’
Gunner Beck’s mother, Leighann McCready, attended the inquest with her partner and daughter.
Speaking outside court, she paid tribute to her daughter, calling her “kind, caring, and truly loved by everyone who knew her”.
Ms McCready added: “She was full of life, bright and absolutely fantastic at her job – the army itself has said exactly the kind of person they wanted to join. She should still be here.”
She called for the army to be stripped of the power to conduct its own investigations into harassment and bullying cases – and that “no one should have to suffer in silence”.
The family of Jaysley Beck outside coroners court
Describing how she felt, she added: “Disgusted, absolutely disgusted, on how the army have failed our daughter.
“I believe it was a cover-up and it’s been made clear through the findings that the army have failed our daughter Jaysley.”
She claimed that since the start of the inquest, 700 male and female soldiers had made contact with her to share their own experiences.
‘It’s weighing me down’
Ms McCready had told the court how her daughter “did not feel safe” as the situation with her line manager intensified, with Ryan Mason sending 3,600 messages in November 2021.
In one reply, she wrote: “This whole falling in love with me… it’s becoming a bit too much, I have just come out of a relationship and I’m just not wanting to be involved in anything like this.
“It’s weighing me down a little bit, I’ll be totally honest with you.”
The inquest also heard how Gunner Beck had been too afraid to return to her room after the alleged assault by WO Webber, locking herself in her car and making a complaint in the morning.
A colleague said she had been “frightened and in tears” and described her superior allegedly “waiting for a moment for them to be alone” before pinning her down and trying to kiss her.
Ms McCready said her daughter had been angered by the apology letter – which ended by saying his “door was open” for her.
The army report said this was “possibly a factor that may have influenced her failure to report other events that happened subsequently”.
The army has apologised over Jaysley’s case
It also highlighted family issues, including bereavement, as playing a part in Gunner Beck’s death – but her family rejects this.
The army report outlined three “contributory factors”, including:
• The “significant strain” of a sexual relationship with a married colleague in the last few weeks of her life
• A relationship which ended in November 2021 which involved “repeated allegations of unfaithfulness on the part of the boyfriend”
• An “unhealthy approach to alcohol, with episodes of binge drinking”
At the inquest, Mr Mason denied trying to “manipulate” Gunner Beck by pressuring her by talking about his own mental health and suicide concerns, while WO2 Webber, who is married, declined to answer questions.
Army: ‘We should have done more’
Brigadier Melissa Emmett, head of the army personnel services group, said it accepts failures were made.
“We let her down in so many ways for which we have already apologised, and if I can apologise again, for what it’s worth, I would do,” she said.
“On a personal level, listening to the doubt and the fear that she had, the good encouragement of her friends to report, but the lack of confidence that they had in reporting, and the well-meaning but erroneous actions of the chain of command, I have found personally very grieving.
“We could have, and we should have, done more.”
Alistair Carns, the veterans minister, said Gunner Beck’s death “was and still is a tragedy, and we are deeply sorry for the failure to protect her”.
He added: “There is no place for any abuse or unacceptable behaviours within the military. This government has stepped up efforts to bring about crucial reform and provide a place where people are proud to work and have faith in the service justice system.”
Former female soldier: ‘It’s a lad’s culture’
Tamzin Hort, a former soldier who was friends with Gunner Beck, bonded over struggles with their former partners and the army.
Ms Hort, who joined the army when she was 17, told Sky News she was in disbelief when she heard Gunner Beck had died on the night of her battery’s Christmas party.
She said she was unaware of what was going on before Gunner Beck’s death, but is not surprised by it.
“It’s a man’s world. It’s a lad’s culture. You’re a lad if you say things like that, or you do things, or you’re inappropriate,” she said.
“However, if the roles were reversed and females were doing what the men were doing, we’d be disgusting.
“You get scrutinised for the way you look or the way you dress or the way you speak, where you’re from, anything. They pick up on it and some people make your life a living hell, and that is the reason why I left, because my mental health – it was at a low.”
Ms Hort said she thinks the army is not safe for young women and that there needs to be “big changes”.
“In the civilian world, if you wish to harass someone, if you make stupid comments to anyone, you’d be getting arrested straight away,” she said.
“None of this, ‘we’re now going to set policies’ – they should have set already. Jaysley should still be here.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK