Ryan Mason, Jaysley Beck’s supervisor, testified at the inquest into her death at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire.
Ryan Mason, a bombardier who served in the Core Engagement Team, worked with Jaysley. He sent her numerous messages via WhatsApp before her death, as the Salisbury inquest heard.
Ryan Mason left the Army the same month Jaysley died. He described her as having good spirits and bringing energy to the team. He currently works as a driving instructor.
The coroner, Nicholas Rheinberg, questioned Ryan Mason extensively. He inquired if Mason loved Jaysley and if he had expressed his feelings to her. However, Mason declined to answer.
Mr. Rheinberg informed Mason that he could avoid questions if the answers were self-incriminating. Despite this, Mr. Mason again declined to respond. The coroner then shifted the focus to potential pressure, mental health issues, and even suicide mentions in the messages.
Mr. Mason became emotional and started crying. He revealed that he had experienced mental health issues since childhood and had even self-harmed in 2015.
The coroner questioned the appropriateness of Mason burdening Jaysley, a 19-year-old, with his troubles. Again, Mr. Mason refused to answer.
Further questions from the coroner explored whether Mason had attempted to manipulate Jaysley or threatened suicide to keep her close. Mr. Mason denied having any intention to manipulate her.
The coroner then inquired about a hotel stay and whether Mason had asked Jaysley to sleep with him, to which Mr. Mason responded negatively. He then questioned an incident on December 7 when Mason, Jaysley, and another soldier stayed at a hotel for an event.
The inquest heard that Jaysley left the event early, calling her parents and sounding scared. The coroner asked if Mason entered Jaysley’s room and touched her leg. Mason denied this.
The inquest then presented a message from Jaysley to Mason from that day, expressing that she felt trapped and uncomfortable. She said she was trying to act normal at work but recognized that nothing was normal.
She explained that she had tried to be a friend but felt that the situation had crossed a line. She voiced her distress and worry, stating that it was impacting her mental health, and that she needed time away.
The coroner asked Mason if he believed his actions had stressed Jaysley, but Mason declined to answer. On December 8, Mason went to his family home and subsequently quit the Army.
Alison Gerry, the family’s counsel, questioned Mason about the WhatsApp messages. However, the coroner stopped her questioning due to his concern for Mason’s mental health.
Before Ms. Gerry was halted in questioning, she argued that Mason, as Jaysley’s older manager, had become obsessed and manipulative. She claimed he became overjoyed when she ended things with her boyfriend, furthering his increasingly obsessive behaviors. Mason again declined to answer.
Mr. Mason was aware of an alleged sexual assault incident involving Jaysley and another soldier in July 2021. Ms. Gerry questioned whether he had continued to pursue Jaysley after that incident. He declined to answer.
Leighann McCready, Jaysley’s mother, visibly turned away from Mason and faced the back of the room while he gave evidence. The hearing is ongoing.