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Stacey Dooley: Death in the Barracks

Duration: 1 x 60'

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With unprecedented access to Jaysley’s family, friends and former Army colleagues, the film traces her journey from proud teenager, excited to serve her country, to a young woman struggling inside an institution that should have protected her.

In December 2021, 19-year-old Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was found dead in her barracks at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire after a Christmas party. 

Her death was ruled as suicide, but it soon emerged that in the months before her death Jaysley had been sexually assaulted by a senior colleague and subjected to relentless harassment by her line manager, including sending her over 4600 Whatsapp messages. At the inquest, the coroner ruled that the Army’s handling of Jaysley’s complaint contributed to her death.

We see Stacey follow Jaysley’s family through the legal process as they seek justice and accountability for what happened, and as they fight for changes to the way that the Armed Forces handle serious complaints.

At a moment when more young people are being asked to consider serving in the military, this  film confronts urgent questions about sexism, abuse of power and accountability within the Armed Forces.  

The military acknowledges the problems and are bringing in measures to improve things; but as we see Stacey ask, has enough changed to prevent another tragedy like Jaysley’s death?

For BBC3

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