Young soldier found dead after reporting ‘abusive’ boss who sent thousands of texts
The 19-year-old had complained about a ‘psychotic’ superior who allegedly sent 3,600 messages in a month before his tragic death at the military base.
Nineteen-year-old Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was found dead at her UK military base in December 2021, after receiving thousands of messages from her ‘possessive’ boss, an inquest has heard.
The hearing revealed that Bombardier Ryan Mason had sent 3,600 messages to Beck via WhatsApp in November 2021 alone. The teenager had described him as ‘stalking’ her and felt so unsafe that she once opted to sleep in her car rather than return to her quarters.
‘I honestly feel trapped’
Mason’s messages ranged from affectionate to obsessive. In one text, he wrote:
“I will always be there along for the ride with you… you’re stuck with me forever now. I love you x As a friend, I love you.”
Gunner Beck had repeatedly expressed discomfort, responding:
“This whole falling in love with me, it’s becoming a bit too much… I just don’t want to hear how you feel about me.”
In another message, she told him:
“It’s possessive and psychotic, you have to understand it’s not normal behavior. I am struggling to deal with all of this… It’s taking a huge toll on my own mental health.”
The inquest heard that she feared Mason had hacked her phone, as he seemed to know her location even when he was supposed to be away.
Family says she ‘did not feel safe’
During the inquest in Salisbury, Beck’s mother, Leighann McCready, stated that her daughter had described Mason as ‘becoming a creep’ and that his behavior was overwhelming.
On December 7, 2021, just days before her death, Beck tearfully called her mother, expressing deep fear.
“Mum, I think he’s hacked my phone, because he knows exactly where I am standing, and he’s meant to be away,” she said.
Army inquiry links messages to her death
An Army Service Inquiry later determined that this intense period of messaging was an ‘almost certain’ contributing factor to Beck’s tragic death.
The hearing also revealed that Beck had previously reported a separate assault in July 2021, in which a superior allegedly put his hand between her legs during a team-building exercise. She later received an apology letter from him, but it was suggested that this prior experience may have discouraged her from reporting Mason’s behavior.
‘Bubbly’ soldier became ‘more and more down’
Colleagues described Beck as a lively, happy person who, in the weeks leading up to her death, had become withdrawn and distressed.
Despite no prior mental health concerns and no recorded welfare support requests, the inquest suggests that the relentless harassment she faced at work took a severe toll on her mental well-being.
Ongoing inquest and unanswered questions
The inquest into Beck’s death is ongoing, with questions being raised about how the military handled her complaints and whether more could have been done to protect her.
Her case has sparked wider discussions about harassment and safeguarding within the armed forces, with calls for stronger protections against workplace abuse.
