Brenna Cooper
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing
The boss of a teenage soldier who was found dead at her army base has denied being 'obsessed' with her, an inquest has heard.
Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was just 19 years old when she was found to have died by suicide at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on 15 December 2021 after experiencing 'intense' and 'unwelcome' behaviour from high-ranking staff.
An inquest into Beck's death is currently ongoing, with her former boss ex-Bombardier Ryan Mason accused of being obsessed with the teenager and displaying 'psychotic and possessive behaviour'.
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The inquest previously heard that a different soldier was involved in a separate incident where Beck was 'pinned down and kissed'.
It was revealed Beck had received around 3,600 text messages from Mason in the November prior to her death and had believed he was tracking her phone.
Ex-Bombardier Mason has now given evidence at the inquest, denying the allegations that he had attempted to 'manipulate' her into 'maintaining a close relationship' with him.
"I knew there was never a chance with Jaysley," he told the inquest.
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Mason declined to answer a series of questions from coroner Nicholas Rheinberg and the family's counsel Alison Gerry, which included asking the older soldier if he had displayed 'possessive, jealous, manipulative' behaviour towards Beck, whether or not he had confessed romantic feelings towards her and the contents of various WhatsApp messages sent between the pair.
He then declined to answer when asked if he had been 'putting pressure' on Beck with his messages by 'referencing to concerns about your mental health and suicide'.
Mason, who quit the army the same month which Beck passed away, was then questioned over an incident which occurred on 7 December at a hotel where he, Beck and a third solider had been staying for an event.
“Did you, while staying in a hotel, ask Jaysley to sleep with you?” Rheinberg asked Mason, to which he answered: "No."
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The inquest then heard how Beck left early after calling her parents in a 'frightened state' over the incident.
The inquest was read the following text message sent from Beck to Mason that day, which said: "I honestly feel trapped in this whole situation, I have tried to act as a 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.
"I have felt so uncomfortable at this event, I have literally cried about it and been up worrying about it.
"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."
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A report previously conducted by the army in 2023 said it was 'almost certain' that messages from Mason had been a 'casual factor' in her death.
The inquest continues.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.