Army boss speaks out after soldier, 19, found dead at base complained about getting '3,600 texts in one month' from him
Topics: UK News
Liv Bridge
Featured Image Credit: Family handout
Topics: UK News
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
An army boss who has been accused of harassing a 19-year-old soldier before her death has spoken out.
Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was found dead at the barracks of her army base in Wiltshire, UK, in December 2021, just months after raising a complaint about the behaviour of a colleague.
An inquest into her death revealed Gunner Beck had filed a complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber in July 2021, where it was alleged a soldier had tried to 'pin her down' and 'kiss' her.
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The inquest also heard the teenager received thousands of messages from another senior colleague, Bombardier Ryan Mason, who allegedly caused the teen to feel 'trapped' and 'not safe' at work, Sky News reports.
The youngster became 'freaked out' by her 'obsessive' and 'psychotic' boss behaviour, during which she said she received 3,600 messages from him in one month alone before her death and was also reportedly worried he had hacked her cell phone.
Former Bombardier Mason reportedly sent text messages like 'I love you' and 'You're amazing Jaysley' to the teenager but told a hearing at Sailsbury Coroner's Court today that he knew 'there was never a chance with her'.
Mason, who was her senior by rank and age, refused to answer questions by coroner Nicholas Rheinberg about if he had 'romantic feelings' or had 'declared his love' for the teen, The Mirror reports, who is suspected to have died by suicide over the 'relentless' harassment.
Giving evidence, Mr Mason, who quit the Army the same month as Gunner Beck died and now works as a driving instructor, described her as an 'energetic person' while denying 'emotionally manipulating' the youngster.
The coroner also asked Mr Mason: “Did you, while staying in a hotel, ask Jaysley to sleep with you?” to which he answered: “No.”
After the hotel incident, which allegedly involved Mr Mason and a third soldier, Gunner Beck reportedly left early and called her parents in a 'frightened state'.
Coroner Rheinberg asked: “Did you during the course of that stay enter Jaysley’s room and put your hand on her leg?” to which Mr Mason replied: “No.”
The inquest heard a message that Gunner Beck sent to Mr Mason that day which read: “I honestly feel trapped in this whole situation, I have tried to act as a normal as possible because we are working together, but nothing is normal about this situation.
“I have tried to be there for you as a friend, but it completely crossed the line of that a long time ago," the text continued. “I have felt so uncomfortable at this event, I have literally cried about it and been up worrying about it.
“The truth is I am struggling to deal with all this, it’s taken a huge toll on my mental health for many reasons. I need time out.”
Mr Mason broke down in tears as he told the hearing that he suffered from mental health issues, had self-harmed in 2015 and moved back to his family home in West Yorkshire on December 8 before handing in his notice.
The family's counsel, Alison Gerry, then asked him: “You were Jaysley’s line manager, you were older, she was a young new soldier and your subordinate and it’s right you became completely obsessed with her, possessive, jealous, manipulative and when she split up with her boyfriend, you were overjoyed as that meant you could be together and when that did not happen you became more obsessive and manipulative?”
Ms Gerry also raised that, despite knowing the young woman had allegedly been sexually assaulted, he 'pursued' her.
While Mr Mason gave his evidence, Gunner Beck’s mother, Leighann McCready, turned her head away to face the back of the room.
A service inquiry report published in October 2023 said the teen endured 'an intense period of unwelcome behaviour' and that it was 'almost certain this was a causal factor' in her passing.
The inquest continues.