Former beauty queen who turned to life of crime found dead

A former beauty queen who fell into a life of crime has been found dead at her home
Natalie Gentle, from Plymouth, Devon, was found after police broke down the door of her home last night. Her death is not being treated as suspicious.

The 32-year-old was once a contestant in a 'Face Of 2007' competition but later appeared in court over accusations of drug-taking and anti-social behaviour.

She was given an ASBO over noise entering her home in Plymouth banning men from entering her property because of loud sexual noises disturbing her neighbours.

Prosecutors said she was a prostitute using the address as a brothel before she was evicted in 2010.

Despite a promising start to life Natalie appeared in court numerous times due to her heroin habit.

She would use her flat as a 'hub' for prostitution and dealing Class A drugs, and was raided on many occasions.

Natalie was dragged to court on one occasion after her neighbours complained about men knocking on the door asking "where the prostitute is".

After that incident Plymouth magistrates ordered her property be closed down for three months following joint legal action by the council and police.

Speaking at the time prosecutor Dylan Sadler told Gentle: "You are a prostitute, men visit that premises as you offer that service and you use this to finance a heroin habit."

But yesterday she was found dead after police broke down the door at around 9pm.

Today, friends and neighbours have come forward to say that Natalie was still a good person, and that the council were to blame for her death.

One resident said: "She was a lovely girl, it's so sad.I blame the police and the council for her death, it's them who should be getting done.

"She tried to get help but they wouldn't help her. She had been attacked so many times. Everybody has got a background."

Another neighbour said:"It's not a surprise. It was more a case of when this was going to happen than if.

"She was a lovely woman; she just took the wrong path in life."

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police attended an address at Manston Close, Ernesettle, Plymouth following concerns for the welfare of a resident.

"Just after 9pm police forced the door and found the body of a female in her 30s. "Police are not currently treating this as suspicious."