An army bombardier accused of harassing a teenage soldier before her suspected suicide by deluging her with ‘I love you’ messages yesterday told a coroner’s court: ‘I knew there was never a chance with her.’

Ryan Mason is said to have sent 3,600 WhatsApp messages to Gunner Jaysley Beck in just a month.

But he refused to answer when questioned at the inquest into her death whether he was ‘completely obsessed’ with the 19-year-old and subjected her to a ‘constant pursuit’.

Gnr Beck received a barrage of messages from Mr Mason, who has now left the Army, including: ‘You’re amazing Jaysley’ and ‘I do love you’. 

She told her mother Leighann McCready ‘it was becoming creepy’ and feared he had ‘hacked’ her phone to trace her location.

Ryan Mason (pictured) is said to have sent 3,600 WhatsApp messages to Gunner Jaysley Beck in just a month

Gunner Jaysley Beck (pictured) received a barrage of messages from Mr Mason, who has now left the Army, including: ‘You’re amazing Jaysley’ and ‘I do love you’

Leighann McCready, the mother of Gunner Jaysley Beck, outside Salisbury and Swindon Coroners Court

Gnr Beck was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on December 15, 2021. An Army inquiry has already found harassment was a ‘causal’ factor. 

Yesterday coroner Nicholas Rheinberg told Bdr Mason he did not have to reply ‘if the truthful answer of any of my questions might incriminate you’.

He then asked Bdr Mason: ‘It appears you send well over 1,000 WhatsApp messages to Jaysley in October 2021 and over 3,600 WhatsApp messages in November 2021. 

Do you acknowledge that?’ He responded: ‘I decline to answer.’ Mr Rheinberg said it appeared that by November 2021, Bdr Mason had been declaring his love for Jaysley. 

He replied: ‘I decline to say anything on that.’

The pair met when Gnr Beck joined Bdr Mason’s Corps Engagement Team in February 2021, Salisbury Coroner’s Court has heard. 

But his ‘unwelcome behaviour’ was said to have ‘ramped up’, reaching a climax on a training exercise in Newbury on December 7. 

She abandoned the overnight deployment because she felt ‘unsafe’ in his company.

An Army inquiry into Gnr Beck’s death has already found harassment was a ‘causal’ factor

Larkhill Barracks near Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Gunner Beck was found dead in December 2021

Gnr Beck is thought to have taken her own life over the harassment she faced during her time in the Army

He was asked if he had propositioned the teenager or entered her hotel room and put his hand on her leg. 

He denied doing either. Asked by Alison Gerry, acting for Gnr Beck’s family, whether he had been ‘delighted’ to learn she had split up with her boyfriend of two years. 

He declined to answer. He then said: ‘I knew there was never a chance with Jaysley.’ He also denied that he had hacked the teenager’s phone.

The inquest continues. For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123 orvisit samaritans.org