Soldier Jaysley Beck, a Royal Artillery Gunner based at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire, was found dead at her base camp in December 2021.
This week, an inquest showed the teenager was “scared” by the “psychotic and possessive” behavior by her boss, Bombardier Ryan Mason, prior to her decision to take her own life.
Mason sent Beck over 3,600 message in a period of a single month and his behavior was determined to be a “casual factor” in her passing.
In one of the message beck sent to Mason, the young soldier wrote that she felt “trapped” and that his obsessive behavior “was freaking her out.”
Further, the soldier’s mom, Leighann McCready, said her daughter felt unsafe as the situation involving her boss intensified.
During the hearing, the court showed a number of WhatsApp message between Soldier Beck and her boss between October 2021 and December 2021.
A message from October 21, showed Mason writing: “Love you Jayse. As a friend.” One sent on October 27 read: “I’m renaming you in my phone as the magician.”
Then on November 11, he wrote: “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 x As a friend, I love you.”
On November 25, Gunner Beck wrote back to her boss: “This whole falling in love with me, its 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.”
She added: “Totally honest here, I just don’t want to hear how you feel about me.”
According to her mom, Beck said she felt Mason had hacked her phone as he knew exactly where she was at every moment.
Days before her death, Beck called her mother and expressed her fears over Mason yet again. She said she was “creeped out” by him.
The inquest, that took place on February 11, 2025, revealed that the young soldier was allegedly assaulted by another colleague, Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, after a work social gathering in July 2021.
He only received a minor sanction, and Beck received an apology letter from him.
That incident discouraged her from reporting Mason.
Beck didn’t experience any mental problems in the past, but her boss’ obsessive behavior towards her took its toll. She became withdrawn and distressed which affected her mental well-being.
The inquest into this young soldier’s death is ongoing. The question raised is whether the military could have done more than they did to protect her and prevent a tragedy from taking place.
Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
Bored Daddy
Love and Peace