An inquest has revealed that teenage soldier Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on December 15, 2021. The investigation highlighted her growing fear of the "psychotic and possessive" behavior of her supervisor, Bombardier Ryan Mason, including suspicions that he had hacked into her mobile phone to bombard her with messages.

Jaysley had completed her initial training at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate and was stationed at Larkhill since 2020. An investigation report produced by the Army in October 2023 emphasized "an intense period of unwelcome behaviour," which likely contributed to her death.

During the inquest in Salisbury, her mother, Leighann McCready, recounted how Jaysley felt increasingly unsafe as her communication with Mr. Mason escalated. WhatsApp exchanges from October to December 2021 were presented, showing Mr. Mason's affectionate messages towards Jaysley, including lines like "Love you Jayse. As a friend" on October 21, and declarations of admiration on November 11.

Despite Mr. Mason's affection, Jaysley expressed her discomfort regarding his feelings in a message on November 25, stating, "This whole falling in love with me, it's becoming a bit too much." She continued to voice her anxieties, feeling overwhelmed by the attention, having received 3,600 messages from Mr. Mason in November alone.

Jaysley even reported feeling watched by Mr. Mason, saying, "When you said you saw me leave camp, I was a bit taken back." On December 4, she reached out to him, troubled by his persistent communication, stating, "Can you understand why I think it’s a bit too much?"

Ms. McCready added that her daughter believed Mr. Mason was overly obsessed with her, even suspecting he was tracking her phone location. A troubling phone call on December 7 revealed Jaysley in distress, fearing her conversations were being monitored.

Ms. McCready disclosed that Jaysley hesitated to lodge a formal complaint, worried about being labeled a "female troublemaker." Furthermore, the inquest revealed a reported assault by a sergeant during a team-building exercise in July 2021, adding to Jaysley’s distress.

On multiple occasions, Jaysley expressed her feelings of entrapment in her messages to Mr. Mason, describing his behavior as "possessive and psychotic." Despite revealing her struggles, the inquiry noted that she had no diagnosed mental health conditions and had not sought support from the Army.

The inquiry revealed factors contributing to her death, including a significant strain from a personal relationship with a married colleague that had ended in November 2021, alongside noted alcohol misuse. The report contended that family issues, including a tragic bereavement, also played a role, though this was disputed by Jaysley’s family.

Ms. McCready poignantly remarked during the hearing, "Jayse was the very heart of our family. The loss we feel is beyond words." She emphasized the lasting legacy of love and strength her daughter had left behind.

Bombardier John Wheeler reflected on his friendship with Jaysley, telling the inquest how she had become increasingly withdrawn in the weeks before her death and spoke of Mr. Mason’s correspondence as potentially crossing into sexual harassment. The inquest remains ongoing.