Ex-pole dancer facing jail for encouraging postman’s suicide
AFORMER pole dancer faces jail after being convicted of encouraging a Walsall postman to kill himself after meeting him online.
Natasha Gordon backed out of a suicide pact with 31-year-old Matthew Birkinshaw at the last minute, leaving him to die alone. She was found guilty of a single charge of encouraging suicide by a jury at Leicester Crown Court.
The ex-model was described by the prosecution as an “enthusiastic advocate” of suicide.
She had started pacts within hours other of Mr suicide Birkin- shaw’s death on December 17, 2015. The 44-year-old, of Paston Ridings, Peterborough, told the jury that she had no input into his decision to kill himself.
But after backing out of the pact and leaving him to die alone, she did not tell police officers who were just 450 metres away. Mr Birkin- shaw was pronounced dead at 7.24pm, just after he was found in his Fiat Punto car at Rutland Water.
He had swapped messages with Gordon after he posted online, seeking a suicide partner. He then travelled to her home before the pair drove together to Rutland Water.
Michael Gregory, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The evidence put forward by the prosecution demonstrated how Natasha Gordon broke the law by encouraging the suicide of Matthew Birkinshaw.
“Through analysing her online activity, the CPS was able to demonstrate how Gordon took advantage of Matthew’s vulnerability to encourage his final actions, rather than seeking help.
“The prosecution also established that she had previously contacted other people to encourage their suicides.
“Our thoughts are with Matthew’s family at this difficult time.”
Gordon will be sentenced in January.