An inquest examines messages Jaysley Beck received before her death, including unsettling texts from a colleague.
Jaysley joined the army in March 2019. She learned about it at a school careers fair. She lived in Cumbria then and later went to Harrogate for army training. Jaysley later joined the Corps Engagement Team in Larkhill, where she worked until her death on December 15, 2021.
Leighan McCready, Jaysley’s mom, testified on the inquest’s first day. Nicholas Rheinberg, an assistant coroner, led the inquest. McCready spoke about her daughter, saying Jaysley filled their home with joy.
Jaysley sang and danced a lot, McCready mentioned, adding that she wanted to be known. McCready said her daughter brought love and happiness and that Jaysley was an incredible daughter and sister. The family felt lucky to have her.
McCready also spoke of her daughter’s work, saying Jaysley trained with all her heart. Jaysley was known as Jayse by her friends.
She received many WhatsApp messages that were described as “relentless” and “psychotic” from her line manager months before she died. Before that, she reported an incident that happened in July 2021. Someone assaulted Jaysley at Thorney Island.
Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber assaulted her. She slept in her car that night, fearing he would approach her room. She reported the assault incident, after which the sergeant sent her an apology letter, saying his door was always open for her. This line upset Jaysley quite a bit.
Months later, her line manager texted her about Bombardier Ryan Mason, who had mental health issues. Jaysley comforted him in their messages, telling him he could be happy again. She preferred to listen to his stress and did not want to attend his funeral.
Jaysley made some comments about her own stress, acknowledging she had family problems at that time. Her uncle died suddenly by suicide the prior year, and she had also just ended a relationship with someone.
By November 11, Mason’s messages changed, including comments like “I love you x.” He clarified that he loved her as a friend and expressed it was okay to love a friend. Messages from November 25 showed Mason explicitly saying, “I do love you Jaysley.”
Jaysley replied to Mr. Mason, acknowledging he was having a tough time. She felt his falling in love was too much, as she had just ended a relationship and did not want a new one. This situation was wearing her down.
Jaysley mentioned to him that working together was awkward and that she honestly did not want to hear how he felt. She added that he did not really love her and that it was wrong to claim he loved her because they had never had such feelings.
McCready learned of these conversations and urged her daughter, Jaysley, to report it. Miss Beck received 3600 texts one month from Mr. Mason, according to her mom, who described the messages as “relentless.”
On December 4, Jaysley spoke to her mom, suspecting Mason hacked her phone because he knew where she was, even though he was supposed to be away. McCready remembers her daughter was scared and worried he watched her.
On December 7, Jaysley phoned her parents; her mom heard the trembling and was “absolutely heartbroken.” McCready asked why she whispered because Jaysley thought Mason was listening. She could not explain what happened and struggled to speak.
Jaysley wrote a message to Mason, calling his actions “possessive and psychotic” and stating it was not normal behavior. The inquest will continue later.