Jaysley Beck: Army’s handling of sexual assault complaint ‘played part in death’, coroner says

The 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 today recorded a conclusion of suicide “after a prolonged period of stress after harassment by her line management and problems with a relationship”.

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 a week before she died, the inquest heard.

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 Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, then 39.

She said he’d 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.

WO Webber was given a “minor sanction” and wrote an apology letter – but was later promoted to Warrant Officer 2 rank

Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said 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.

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’d 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.

Gunner Beck’s mother, Leighann McCready, attended the inquest with her partner and daughter.

Speaking outside court, she said her Jaysley was “bright”, “fantastic at her job” and exactly what the Army was looking for.

Ms McCready said no apology could bring her back and called for the Army to be stripped of the power to conduct its own investigations into harassment and bullying cases.

She said victims often feel like they can’t speak up and that “no one should have to suffer in silence”.

‘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”.

Its report 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”.

WO Webber and Mr Mason declined to answer a number of questions at the inquest relating to their alleged behaviour towards Gunner Beck.

George Higgins, a former sergeant, also declined to answer questions about whether his relationship with Gunner Beck had begun when she was a recruit in Harrogate.

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.”

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.