Former NCO denies manipulating teenage soldier who was later found dead

A former NCO who was the supervisor of a teenage soldier has denied at the inquest into her death that he attempted to manipulate her into maintaining a close relationship with him.

Gunner Jaysley Beck, who served in the Royal Artillery, was found hanging in her room at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on 15 December 2021.

Ryan Mason, who was a bombardier and served in the Core Engagement Team with Gnr Beck at the time, sent thousands of WhatsApp messages to her in the months before her death, the Salisbury inquest heard.

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An energetic person

Giving evidence, Mr Mason, who left the Army the same month as Gnr Beck died, described her as an "energetic person that brought good spirits to the team".

When asked by coroner Nicholas Rheinberg if he began to have romantic feelings for Gnr Beck and had declared his love for her, Mr Mason, who now works as a driving instructor, declined to answer.

Mr Rheinberg had advised him that he did not have to answer questions if his answers were likely to incriminate him.

Mr Mason again declined to answer when the coroner asked him whether there was a suggestion from the WhatsApp messages that he had been putting pressure on Gnr Beck by referencing to concerns about his "mental health and suicide".

Mr Mason broke down in tears as he told the hearing that he had suffered from mental health issues since he was a child and had self-harmed in 2015.

Declined to answer

Mr Rheinberg asked Mr Mason: "Jaysley was 19. Do you think it appropriate for a much older man of more senior rank to off-load their troubles to a 19-year-old?"

Mr Mason replied: "I will decline to answer."

The coroner also asked: "Did you attempt to manipulate Jaysley into maintaining a close relationship with her by threatening suicide or self-harm?"

"I didn't have an aim, it wasn't to manipulate," Mr Mason replied.

He also asked Mr Mason: "Did you, while staying in a hotel, ask Jaysley to sleep with you?" To this, he answered "no".

The inquest was read a message that Gnr Beck sent to Mr Mason which said: "I honestly feel trapped in this whole situation.

"I have tried to act as normal as possible because we are working together – but nothing is normal about this situation.

"I have tried to be there for you as a friend but it completely crossed the line of that a long time ago."

Gnr Beck added: "The truth is I am struggling to deal with all this, it's taken a huge toll on my mental health for many reasons. I need time out."

The hearing continues.