Sexual harassment complaints “more than a minimal contributory part” in tragic death of Jaysley Beck
The death of Jaysley Beck was in part caused by the Army’s handling of her complaint, a coroner has ruled.
The inquest heard that Ms Beck, aged 19, died after a campaign of sexual harassment and a botched investigation into sexual assault.
Ms Beck was tragically found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021. Her death followed an intense period of sexual harassment from her Army line manager, which was noted to have taken a huge toll on her mental health.
Army bombardier Ryan Mason, accused of relentlessly harassing Ms Beck, refused to answer a series of questions about his behaviour at the inquest into her death.
At the inquest, which was heard in Salisbury, the jury heard how she had become “scared” by the “psychotic and possessive” behaviour of her boss, who she feared had “hacked” her phone. The inquest heard about attempts he made to manipulate her into maintaining a close relationship with him.
Ms Beck initially provided support to Mr Mason who was struggling with his mental health, but this intensified into possessive behaviour, and she started to fear for her safety.
In the month of November 2021 alone, Mason sent her 3,600 messages and an Army service inquiry report published in October 2023 described “an intense period of unwelcome behaviour” which it was “almost certain was a causal factor in the 19-year-old’s death”.
During the inquest, the family’s lawyer, Emma Norton from the Centre for Military Justice, said: “It’s very significant the Army is admitting the sexual harassment this young woman was subjected to in the months before her death was a causal factor. I am not aware of another case where this has been admitted.”
It’s especially concerning that Ms Beck was reluctant to report this wholly inappropriate behaviour because a previous complaint of sexual assault was so inadequately managed.
In the incident in July 2021, a senior officer had pinned her down, put his hands between her legs and tried to grab and kiss her. A colleague reported the incident, and it was allegedly taken seriously by her chain of command, but because the correct reporting process was not followed, the individual involved was only given a minor sanction and was subsequently promoted to WO1 (Warrant Officer Class One).
The inquest heard he should have been removed from post whilst being investigated.
The Army service inquiry report published in October 2023 said this was “possibly a factor that may have influenced her failure to report events that happened subsequently”.
On 20 February 2025, Assistant Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg ruled she died by suicide and determined the Army’s handling of the complaint played “more than a minimal contributory part in her death”.
Mr Rheinberg concluded: “I find there was a failure on behalf of The Army to take action over the harassment she was suffering from her line manager”. “And there was a failure on behalf of the Army to take action against the senior officer at whose hands she’d suffered a sexual assault.”
This abhorrent behaviour and the failure on the MOD to implement a fair and effective way to investigate complaints, has cost Ms Beck her life. If the MOD as an organisation does not choose to prioritise the need to remedy its cultural and institutional problems, stories like this will become the norm.
If you are suffering harassment now, help is available. You are not alone. Speak to the service police, civilian police, medical centre, Padre, a senior officer, a friend, a colleague. There are organisations who can help including Salute Her, Centre for Military Justice, and the Samaritans.
Further information on how BBK can help can be found here: Sexual Assault in the Military Claims.
