Beck passed away at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021. A recent inquest has shed light on the tragic circumstances surrounding her death.
From a young age, the 19-year-old had aspired to a career in the military. She joined the army at just 16 and quickly earned the respect of both her peers and superiors through her strong work ethic and passion for her role in the Royal Artillery.
In addition to her dedication as a soldier, Beck’s family has shared heartfelt reflections on her character, painting a picture of a deeply committed and remarkable young woman.
Her mother, Leighann McCready, said: “She was just so loving, really had a heart of gold, would do anything for anyone. She always looked out for others and put others before herself.
“She was a very witty girl, a very mature girl. She was passionate about her career and was a strong member of her family and a loving sister.”
But the aspirations and dreams the young gunner had hoped to achieve were ripped away from her after being s**ually harassed at work.
In the months leading up to her death, Beck complained to her family about thousands of messages from her line manager, Ryan Mason.
Her mother shared at the inquest that her daughter had ‘not felt safe’ after Manson’s harassment continued, sending her 3,600 messages in November 2021.
In one message to Gunner Beck on 21 October, he wrote: “Love you Jayse. As a friend.”
Then, on 11 November, Mason texted: “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.”
Beck had become ‘freaked out’ by this persistent behaviour.
Beck had drafted a text to Mason, but it was never sent: “I honestly feel trapped in this whole situation. I have tried to act as normally as possible because we are working together, but nothing normal about this 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 a time out.”
Mason also wrote a 14-page document detailing his ‘feelings towards Jaysle’ and paid for rooms next to each other during a work trip before she died, the inquest heard.
Not only had the 19-year-old been dealing with Mason’s inappropriate behaviour, but she was s**ually assaulted by another colleague.
The hearing was told that Gunner Beck had previously complained of being assaulted by Sergeant Michael Webber.
During the incident, he put his ‘hand between her legs’ while on a team-building stay in Hampshire in July 2021.
McCready said that her daughter had slept in her car that night as she had been too afraid to return to her room.
Webber subsequently received a minor sanction on his record and was made to write an apology letter to Gunner Beck.
Her mother said she had been angered by the letter she had received, which had concluded with Webber writing that his ‘door was open’ for her.
The inquest heard that during the final weeks of Gunner Beck’s life, Mr Mason’s behaviour intensified, reaching a climax point while on a training exercise in Newbury on 7 December.
Bombardier Young told the inquest that he had received a phone call from Gunner Beck, who was “trembling, crying and in shock.”
“She told me it had gone too far and that she couldn’t cope with being around Ryan anymore,” he said. “The intensity of the behaviour had escalated. He was saying disturbing things and had even tried knocking on her hotel room door.”
Just days later, Gunner Beck was found dead in her room.
The inquest concluded that the army’s failure to respond to an earlier assault by a senior sergeant played a significant role in her death. Beck had taken her own life after her repeated pleas for help were ignored.
If you or someone you know is struggling with any of the issues mentioned in this story, help is available.
In the U.S.:
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Or text 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
In the U.K.:
- The Samaritans offer 24/7 support. Call 116 123 for free, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit their website for local support.
For anyone experiencing abuse:
- Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline for free, confidential help 24/7.
- Text START to 88788, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or visit TheHotline.org.
