The Times, UK, reports that Bombardier Ryan Mason, the superior of 19-year-old Royal Artillery gunner Jaysley Beck, has been named in the inquest following her tragic death. Beck, who died in December 2021, had been subjected to a relentless barrage of over 3,600 text messages and voicemails from Mason, who expressed possessive feelings towards her, often sending “I love you” messages.
Beck became increasingly distressed by his advances, telling him in messages that his behavior was “becoming a bit too much” and “weighing [her] down.” Her mother, Leighann McCready, testified at the inquest that Beck feared Mason had hacked her phone and felt trapped by his obsessive behavior. She also reported that Mason prevented her from working with other male colleagues, exacerbating the situation.
Despite her growing anxiety, Beck did not report Mason’s actions, fearing she would be labeled as a “female troublemaker” in the predominantly male army environment. The inquest also revealed that Beck had experienced previous harassment within the military, including an incident with a married senior officer.
A Ministry of Defence inquiry into Beck’s death concluded that the harassment she faced from Mason, as well as other factors, played a causal role in her tragic suicide.
