Sexual harassment by a superior forced UK teenage soldier Jaysley Beck to take her own life: Army report
Jaysley Beck, a female teenage soldier of Royal Artillery Gunner, is believed to have taken her own life due to relentless sexual harassment by one of her superiors, according to an Army investigation.
Beck,19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021.
A service inquiry report, obtained by the BBC, reveals a prolonged period of unwelcome behavior directed at her.
The report concludes that this behavior was a significant factor contributing to her death.
The harassment by her immediate superior spanned two months leading up to her death, with the behavior finally ceasing a week prior.
The report highlights that her boss, who remains unnamed, desired a romantic relationship with her, despite her having a boyfriend and not reciprocating his feelings.
In October 2021, he sent her over 1,000 WhatsApp messages and voicemails, which escalated to more than 3,500 the following month. These messages exhibited controlling behavior, with constant requests for reassurance about her whereabouts and a clear reluctance to see her with anyone else.
Initially regarding her boss as a friend, Gunner Beck later messaged him expressing her inability to cope with the situation, stating, «I can't handle it any more.
It's weighing me down.»
The family's lawyer, Emma Norton from the Centre for Military Justice, emphasized the significance of the Army acknowledging that the sexual harassment was a contributing factor in Gunner Beck's tragic death, a step not often taken. This admission has raised concerns among Gunner Beck's family.
The report also points to wider issues of inappropriate sexual behavior within Larkhill Garrison, describing it as commonplace among a significant minority of soldiers.
