A TEENAGE soldier took her own life at Larkhill Camp after suffering ‘relentless harassment’, an inquest has ruled.

Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was found hanged in her barracks on December 15, 2021.

An inquest heard Gunner Beck was sexually assaulted by one senior colleague, before being harassed by her line manager.

And Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg ruled the Army’s failure to take action contributed to her death.

On Thursday (February 20), Mr Rheinberg ruled the 19-year-old had intended to take her own life as a result of the incidents.

“I find there was a failure on behalf of the Army to take action over the harassment she was suffering from her line manager,” he said. “And there was a failure on behalf of the Army to take action against the senior officer at whose hands she’d suffered a sexual assault.”

READ MORE: Young soldier, 19, died after ‘unwelcome behaviour’, by boss: Report

The coroner ruled the complaint “should have been reported to police and the failure to do so breached Army policy”.

The Army apologised to Gunner Beck’s family and accepted the failurespointed out by the coroner.

Brigadier Melissa Emmett, head of the Army personnel services group, said changes had been made.

“There is more work to do,” she added. “It is my hope that such change will give service personnel the confidence they need to report sexual offences and inappropriate behaviours, knowing that they will be listened to.”

After the inquest, Gunner Beck’s mother, Leighann McCready, said: “I believe it was a cover-up and it’s been made clear through the findings that the Army has failed our daughter Jaysley.

“Things need to change. The Army cannot be allowed to investigate itself anymore when it comes to cases of sexual harassment, assault, bullying and abuse.

“The Army has admitted that it let Jaysley down, and has apologised for its failings – but no apology will ever bring our daughter back.

“Too often service women, and men, don’t feel able to speak up out of fear of being victimised, and even when they do, the Army is left to investigate itself.

“This cannot continue. Jaysley should still be here, we will not stop fighting until immediate action is taken.”

Alistair Carns, minister for veterans and people, said the Army would learn lessons from the affair.

“Jaysley was a young and promising soldier who should have had the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and safe environment,” he said.

“Her death was and still is a tragedy, and we are deeply sorry for the failure to protect her.”