Police dropped investigation into ‘psychotic' manager who ‘harassed' teen soldier

Telegraph

18-02-2025

Police dropped an investigation into harassment claims against a 'psychotic' bombardier who 'relentlessly' hounded a teenage soldier who later died in a suspected suicide, an inquest heard.
A detective who investigated the death of Gunner Jaysley Beck said that the allegations against her manager Bombardier Ryan Mason, who has left the Army, did not meet the criminal threshold.
Gunner Beck's inquest heard that the 19-year-old was 'bombarded' by thousands of 'I love you messages' from Mr Mason and that she became 'scared' of him.
Following alleged harassment by Mr Mason and other soldiers, Gunner Beck was found dead in single living accommodation in Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire on Dec 15 2021.
'Unwelcome harassment'
Her suspected suicide prompted an Army service inquiry, which found in October 2023 that 'unwelcome' harassment was a 'causal factor' in her death.
At the hearing on Tuesday, Det Insp Eirin Martin of Wiltshire Police said that while there was an 'investigation' into 'looking at' claims of harassment against Mr Mason, they were ultimately dropped.
The inspector said that it was too late to present the claims and that the 'nature of the messages' did not amount to a criminal matter.
Salisbury coroner's court heard that Gunner Beck joined the army in March 2019 where she undertook training in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. She graduated into the Royal Artillery the following year and was subsequently posted to the 14th Regiment in Larkhill, Wiltshire, where she joined the Corps Engagement Team.
In October of that year, Mr Mason sent Gunner Beck over 1,000 WhatsApp messages, with this increasing to more than 3,600 the following month.
Speaking at her inquest, Det Insp Martin said that after the soldier died, she received a 'complaint of harassment' against Mr Mason by Gunner Beck's mother, Leighann McCready.
Det Insp Martin said: 'We conducted an investigation into looking at harassment over that period of time and the conclusion of that is the evidence did not support [a criminal investigation] for two main reasons.'
The police inspector said the 'nature of the messages' and the 'nature of their relationship' were not considered to amount to the 'criminal' definition of harassment.
She also said there is a six-month statutory charge limit in cases of harassment and in the case of a claim against Mr Mason, 'we were very far outside that'.
Det Insp Martin is understood to have taken over the case in January 2024, over two years after Gunner Beck died.
She said that she also considered section four of the Harassment Act, which relates to whether Mr Mason put Gunner Beck 'in fear of violence', but that'there was no evidence of an offer of violence within that relationship'.
'Relationship with colleagues'
The police inspector also referred to the '14-page letter' written by Mr Mason and described it as being 'a journal of his inner thoughts around his life' and 'around his relationship with colleagues at work'.
Det Insp Martin said it also contained a 'significant amount' of writings about his 'feelings towards Jaysley'.
Mr Mason previously gave evidence to the inquest and denied trying to 'emotionally manipulate' the teenager.
He told the coroner's court that he 'knew there was never a chance with her' and declined to acknowledge the high number of messages he had sent to the her.
Mr Mason denied asking Gunner Beck to 'sleep' with him and when asked if he put his hand on her leg during an army event he said 'no'.
The inquest previously heard that when the pair met their working relationship started normally but he began 'overstepping the mark' and she became 'scared' of him.
'Possessive and psychotic'
It heard that Gunner Beck once described Mr Mason as 'possessive and psychotic' and that the harassment she had suffered was 'relentless'.
In one message, Mr Mason said: 'You're amazing Jaysley, I appreciate you so much, I love everything about you, even your flaws and I'm so grateful to call you my friend... You are stuck with me forever now. It's signed and sealed, I love you x.'
At one point, the soldier even feared that Mr Mason had 'hacked' her mobile phone as he once messaged her saying 'Jaysley Beck I know you're standing at the bottom of the building on your telephone'. However, Mr Mason denied this completely.
Ms McCready said her daughter, from Oxen Park in Cumbria, told her 'he's actually scaring me now mum'.
It was also heard that Mr Mason had written 'a love story' about him and Gunner Beck that 'bordered on sexual harassment'. It has previously been stated that the story involved characters 'personified' by the two of them.
The inquest continues.