Bombardier Ryan Mason has refuted claims that he made a soldier feel ‘unsafe’ at a hotel, as revealed in an inquest into the death of Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck. Gunner Beck tragically passed away at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on December 15, 2021, after experiencing intense unwelcome behavior from Mr. Mason, who was her line manager at the time. An alleged incident at a hotel in Newbury caused Gunner Beck to abruptly abandon an overnight deployment a week before her death due to feeling “unsafe” around Mr. Mason, although he denies having any knowledge of the situation.
The inquest, which commenced at Salisbury Coroner’s Court, uncovered a significant amount of messages exchanged between Gunner Beck and Mr. Mason. Mr. Mason had sent Gunner Beck over 4,600 messages between October and December 2021, declaring his romantic feelings for her. These messages made Gunner Beck feel overwhelmed, as they breached the boundaries of professionalism and friendship. She expressed discomfort in a Whatsapp message, stating that the situation had crossed a line that made her feel trapped.
Following a training exercise in Newbury on December 7, where the intensity of Mr. Mason’s behavior peaked, Gunner Beck confided in Bombardier George Young about feeling frightened and unable to continue being around Mr. Mason. Despite Mr. Mason denying any recollection of the incident that led to Gunner Beck’s fear, the inquest revealed that Gunner Beck’s departure from the hotel was alarming enough for her friend to pick her up and return her to Larkhill Camp.
After Gunner Beck expressed her concerns, Mr. Mason took the step to remove himself from his position. Despite his efforts to maintain a semblance of normalcy for Gunner Beck, she tragically passed away a few days later. Lance Bombardier Jones, a close friend of Gunner Beck’s, testified that he noticed a change in her demeanor following the Newbury event and a subsequent panic attack she suffered. An Army service inquiry report published in October 2023 implicated Mr. Mason’s behavior as a significant contributing factor to Gunner Beck’s death. The report also highlighted additional factors that may have played a role, including a strained relationship, allegations of infidelity, and issues with alcohol
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