Why wasn’t she stopped by police?
Officers ignored warning about ex-model who talked postman into suicide online
‘Wanted to do him harm’
POLICE were warned about the actions of a woman described as an ‘enthusiastic advocate’ of suicide five months before she encouraged a postman to take his own life.
Natasha Gordon was found guilty yesterday of persuading Matthew Birkinshaw to enter into a suicide pact – then backing out and leaving him to die alone in a car.
Gordon, 44, who collapsed in court shortly before the verdict was read out, did not tell police about what Mr Birkinshaw was doing until it was too late.
The court heard the pair got in touch via an internet suicide forum, when she said they would ‘die together’.
She later sent a text message to say: ‘I really can’t wait to go tomorrow, hope you don’t change your mind.’ He travelled 90 miles from his house in Walsall to Gordon’s home in Peterborough.
After talking about methods of suicide, they drove to nearby Rutland Water where, by the side of a quiet road, he began the process that would lead to his death.
But Gordon, who was dressed in a leopard print coat and leggings, ‘decided to leave’ the scene – walking to a nearby hotel where she was picked up by police after her worried boyfriend had dialled 999.
Leicester Crown Court heard she then failed to tell the officers Mr Birkinshaw, 31, was dying just 450 metres away.
The body of the Royal Mail worker was found in his car at 6.38pm on December 17, 2015. A post-mortem examination showed he had suffered carbon monoxide poisoning. Jurors were told that she was an ‘enthusiastic advocate’ of suicide and had discussed suicide plans with at least six other people she met online.
Now, it has emerged that another woman warned police about her behaviour in July 2015, five months before Mr Birkinshaw died.
Posting on an anonymous suicide forum, the woman said she had reported Gordon to police ‘for harassment and cyber bullying’ and allegedly ‘encouraging suicide pacts’. Police refused to comment on the claims.
Gordon, a former pole dancer and model, denied encouraging suicide, but was found guilty by a jury after three hours’ deliberation. Before the verdict was announced she collapsed in court with what her barrister described as a ‘fit of abdominal pain’.
She was allowed to leave by judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb and have medical attention outside. The judge told jurors: ‘The usual sentence for an offence of this type is a custodial sentence, and that is what she must expect.
‘Thank you for your attention to this difficult and distressing case.’ The court heard that Mr Birkinshaw was part of a loving family, had a wide circle of friends and a steady girlfriend and ‘on the face of it... much to live for.’
But he felt ‘disconnected’ from the world and the day before his death, posted a message on a suicide forum with his mobile phone number saying he was going to take his own life and was looking for a ‘partner who was serious about committing suicide with him.’ Gordon contacted him and they exchanged text messages discussing how, where and when they could end their lives, before talking in person and arranging to meet the next day. Gordon will be sentenced in January. In a statement released afterwards, Mr Birkinshaw’s parents paid tribute to their ‘thoughtful, sensitive, generous and compassionate’ son who had a ‘brilliant sense of humour.’
‘ It is impossible to put into words the effect the loss of Matthew has had on our family.
‘It has been heartbreaking to hear how when Matt needed kindness and support, he met someone who wanted to do him harm.’
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details