RELATIVES of a former beauty queen who committed suicide after being convicted of blackmailing a former football star are to fight to clear her name.

Carolyn Pick, 36, was granted leave to appeal against her conviction just a day after she was found hanging in her hospital ward.

Ms Pick was detained for treatment following her Newcastle Crown Court trial six months earlier for blackmailing the footballer.

Ms Pick was found guilty after a five-year stalking campaign against the player in which she sent photographs of herself in a bikini, sent him lurid sex tapes and even visited the star's home.

Her stalking came to light when the footballer contacted the police when Pick claimed she had a tape recording of fantasy phone sex sessions she had with him, and threatened to expose him to the newspapers.

In one of her tapes she was heard prophetically telling the star: "I have decided I'm going to appear even when I'm dead. I'm going to haunt you."

After her conviction, in October last year, Ms Pick was placed in a secure hospital unit at St Luke's, in Middlesbrough, and her sentence was continuously delayed for further psychiatric tests.

But just before she was due to appear in court, Ms Pick, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, was found dead in her hospital ward on April 19.

An inquest was opened an adjourned and she died without knowing the opportunity to clear her name had been granted. But the Court of Appeal has confirmed the papers for an appeal hearing are being prepared, indicating her family are continuing their quest for justice.

An Appeal Court spokeswoman said: "The family of the deceased have a right to pursue an appeal if they wish, but date has yet been listed for an appeal."

Ms Pick's solicitor, Barry Row, said: "It is very sad she died not knowing the first stage of the legal process to clear her name had been granted."