An inquest has heard the chilling phone call a 19-year-old solider allegedly made a few months before she was found dead.
Back in December 2021, Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck died at her base camp in Wiltshire, UK, after becoming ‘scared’ by her ‘psychotic and possessive’ boss, the inquest was told.
It’s believed Bombardier Ryan Mason caused the teenager to feel ‘trapped’ and ‘not safe’ at work, as per Sky News, and that she was worried he had hacked her mobile phone.
A service inquiry report published in October 2023 described ‘an intense period of unwelcome behaviour’ and said it was ‘almost certain this was a causal factor’ in her passing, Sky News reports.
The inquest into Gunner Beck’s death has also heard that she had made a complaint against a senior officer, Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, during a stay at Thorney Island, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in July 2021 for an adventure training exercise.
The soldier was found dead in December 2021 (Family Photo/PA)
Lance Bombardier Kirsty Davis, who was a gunner at the time and trained with Gunner Beck, told the hearing that her pal called her in the early hours.
In the conversation, she said Gunner Beck told her that ‘something happened that night, they were all having a few drinks, someone tried it on with her’.
The inquest heard Lance Bombardier Davis made a statement saying: “He was trying to kiss her and she was trying to push him away, he was pinning her down.”
Lance Bombardier told the inquest that she was on a ‘sleeping guard’ at an airfield at another location and had received 20 missed calls from Gunner Beck before she spoke to her.
She went on to allege that Gunner Beck did not want her to end the phone call that evening and that she wanted it to last ‘all night’.
“I think she was afraid he was going to come to the car,” Lance Bombardier Davis said, before adding: “I remember him saying she was amazing and beautiful. I know this because Jaysley hated compliments and it made her feel awkward.”
Lance Bombardier Kirsty Davis told the hearing that Gunner Jaysley Beck called her in the early hours (Family Photo/PA)
She went on to say her friend told her he ‘tried to force himself on her more than once, a few times. Jaysley had told him no, tried to get away from him but he had persisted so she left’.
Lance Bombardier Davis added: “I do not know if he actually kissed her or tried to, I do not remember if Jaysley said he had touched her or not.
“Jaysley was in tears, she was upset. I think she was just frightened at what was going on and she was crying, just a little bit.”
The inquest heard that Webber wrote a letter of apology to Gunner Beck and was subjected to a ‘minor sanction’ after she made a complaint.
Lance Bombardier Davis said in her statement: “Jaysley wasn’t happy with what had happened but if you are in the Army and a lower rank, no-one will believe you, especially against a higher rank.
“She didn’t want to get into trouble or cause a drama.”
The inquest remains ongoing.
