AN inquiry was under way last night after a ex-beauty queen who blackmailed a former international footballer was found dead at a psychiatric hospital.

Carolyn Pick, 36, is believed to have taken her own life at St Luke's Hospital in Middlesbrough where she was on remand awaiting sentence.

The body of the former Miss England contestant was discovered late on Thursday night in her secure room.

Police have launched an investigation into her death for the coroner, but the discovery was not being treated as suspicious last night.

Pick, of Washington, Wearside, was due to go back before Newcastle Crown Court in two weeks to be sentenced.

She had blackmailed the footballer, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, by threatening to disclose alleged telephone sex tapes she claims to have made with him.

It was part of a five-year stalking campaign where the deluded Pick bombarded the star with lewd letters and semi-naked photographs of herself asking him to call.

In 1997 she was cautioned by police for harassment, but in 1999 she stepped up her campaign.

She sent him bizarre tapes which were played to the jury during the trial in October where she had changed the words of well-know songs to ones with crude meanings.

Pick described herself to the footballer as "posh, classy, intelligent and sexy" and said she liked fine wines, beautiful restaurants and expensive cars.

On one tape she told the footballer: "'I have a tape recording that could ruin your career and I want revenge.

"I hope that you can see that I am not shutting up about this for the rest of my life unless you want to be nice to me."

The footballer gave evidence during the trial that he had spoken to Pick on the telephone, but said he had been duped into calling her number after receiving a message saying it was a fellow player's number.

Pick denied blackmail saying she only wanted him to apologise for failing to reply to her fan mail - claims branded as "clear lies" by the prosecution.

She was convicted in less than an hour by a jury and remanded under the provisions of the Mental Health Act.

Neighbours later described Pick, who was not married, as a "loner" who kept herself to herself.

She grew up with her two sisters, Eileen and Doreen, at her family's home in Washington.

She was due back at Newcastle Crown Court on May 3 for sentence.

Sentence had been repeatedly postponed since last year while experts assessed Pick and prepared detailed psychiatric reports on her.

Cleveland Police confirmed they were preparing a report for the coroner into the death of a patient at St Luke's but could not confirm an identity.

A spokeswoman said: "We are undertaking an inquiry on behalf of the coroner in relation to a sudden death at St Luke's Hospital."

A spokeswoman for Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust said: "We are helping police with their inquiries into an unexpected death at St Luke's Hospital.

"It does not appear to be suspicious at the moment and it is now a matter for the coroner."