A coroner has recorded a conclusion of suicide at the inquest of teenage soldier Gunner Jaysley Beck who was found hanged at her room in Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire, in December 2021.

The coroner found “on the balance of probabilities” that a 19-year-old Royal Artillery Gunner who was found hanged in her room was sexually assaulted by a colleague and how this was handled “played more than a minimal contributory part in her death”.

The Salisbury inquest heard Jaysley Beck died at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on December 15 2021 and in July that year she complained that she had been sexually assaulted by a senior colleague during a stay at Thorney Island.

Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, now of Warrant Officer 2 rank, was given a “minor sanction” for his actions.

Summing up the inquest for Gunner Beck, Nicholas Rheinberg, assistant coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon said: “She was sufficiently terrified to flee the scene (after an incident), hide in the toilets, take refuge in the car and remain on the phone (to her colleague).”

He added: “How Jaysley’s complaint was handled played more than a contributory part in her death.”

Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said that former bombardier Ryan Mason had sent 1,000 messages to Gunner Beck in October 2021 and 3,600 in November.

He said: “It’s difficult to imagine the extent of the adverse effect that this must have had on Jaysley, a very young woman with problems of her own.

“Jaysley described the bombardier’s conduct as creepy and ultimately as frightening.

“Rightly or wrongly she felt he was tracking her by her phone, the bombardier denied this and I find it unlikely.”

The coroner said that he found it “difficult to believe that” Mr Mason had not been manipulating Gunner Beck by demanding her support for his mental health by telling her of his thoughts of self-harm and suicide.

The Army said Mr Mason’s actions amounted to “unwelcome sexual attention” and “harassment”, the coroner said.

Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was found hanged in her room at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on December 15 2021.

The Salisbury inquest heard the 19-year-old had complained to her family about the “possessive and psychotic” behaviour of her boss, Ryan Mason, a bombardier at the time.

The hearing was told the senior soldier, who had mental health issues and had previously self-harmed, had sent Gunner Beck more than 1,000 messages in October that year and 3,600 in November, and had spoken of his love for her.

Her mother, Leighann McCready, of Oxen Park, Cumbria, said her daughter “did not feel safe” as Mr Mason’s behaviour intensified, and the teenager feared he had hacked her phone and was watching her.

An Army service inquiry report published in October 2023 described this as “an intense period of unwelcome behaviour”, and said it was “almost certain this was a causal factor” in her death.

Mr Mason, who served in the Core Engagement Team (CET) with Gunner Beck but left the Army in the same month as her death, denied he had tried to “manipulate” her by putting pressure on her by talking about his own mental health and suicide concerns.

The hearing was also told that Gunner Beck had made a complaint against another senior soldier, Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, during a stay at Thorney Island, near Emsworth in Hampshire, in July 2021 for an adventure training exercise.

She said he had “made a pass” at her, put his hand between her legs and “pinned her down” while trying to kiss her, the inquest heard.

Gunner Beck, who joined the Army at 16, had been left scared by the incident and ended up sleeping in her car for safety, the hearing was told.

The married soldier, who is now of Warrant Officer 2 rank, declined to answer questions at the inquest.

WO2 Webber had been ordered to write a letter to Gunner Beckafter the incident, which he said had been an attempt at a “genuine apology”.

The Army service inquiry report said this “minor sanction” was “possibly a factor that may have influenced her failure to report other events that happened subsequently”.

The report added that family issues, including a bereavement, were also responsible for Gunner Beck’s death, which her family reject.

It detailed three “contributory factors” to Gunner Beck’s death, including the “significant strain” of a sexual relationship with a married colleague in the last few weeks of her life; a relationship which ended in November 2021 which involved “repeated allegations of unfaithfulness on the part of the boyfriend”; and an “unhealthy approach to alcohol, with episodes of binge drinking”.

It added that Gunner Beck had no diagnosed mental health conditions and had not sought welfare support from anyone in the Army.

Brigadier Melissa Emmett, head of the Army Personnel Services Group, apologised at the inquest to Gunner Becks family and said the force formally accepts there were failures.

Nicholas Rheinberg, assistant coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said on the balance of probabilities that Gunner Beck’s complaint about the conduct of her colleague during a stay at Thorney Island “should have been reported to police and the failure to do so breached Army policy”.

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

Get email updates with the day’s biggest stories