PLAYBOY drugs baron Peter Beaumont-Gowling probably knew his executioner, detectives revealed last night.

The former international restaurateur, who ran a string of businesses throughout the North-East, was found shot dead at home by his girlfriend shortly after midnight on Valentine's Day, in the luxury suburb of Jesmond, Newcastle.

Police said the 52-year-old, who came from Trimdon in County Durham, had probably opened the door to welcome his killer.

Beaumont-Gowling, who had a taste for cocaine and call girls, was the victim of a gangland-style assassination. He had just finished serving four years of an 11-year prison sentence for his part in a £2.5m money laundering scam.

Detective Superintendent Derek Storey, the man leading the murder hunt, said: "There is presently no apparent motive for this barbaric crime and therefore it is open to speculation that it may be revenge or vendetta based."

There were no signs of struggle in the ground-floor flat and no indication that the killer had broken in.

A communal security buzzer system was in place as well as a magnifying spy-hole in his front door.

Mr Storey said: "There's no evidence any doors were forced. He was obviously content to open his door."

He added: "The thrust of the inquiry will be his associates.

"Obviously, he has a criminal history connected with drug trafficking and we will looking at associates."

They are also trying to trace a mystery man seen with him as he left Scalini's restaurant, near his home in Osborne Road, at 1.30pm on Wednesday - about ten hours before the shooting.

Beaumont-Gowling, whohas a a 15-year-old son from a previous relationship, was well known throughout the North-East.

In Darlington, he once owned Perry's nightclub and the town's Buzz bar. He was also linked to the Joe Rigatoni chain of restaurants.

Last night, staff who once worked for the murdered playboy told of their shock. Alan Shields, who helped run the bar at Perry's , said staff viewed their boss as a "likeable guy" and a "bit of a character".

Mr Shields added: "He was basically a nice guy who fancied the playboy gangster thing a bit, although I don't believe he was that into it.

"He liked the girls and liked a drink or two, but he was just a normal sort of guy."

As a chef, he worked at hotels in New York, Paris and Gleneagles before descending into the murky world of drugs.

Described by detectives as "flamboyant and gregarious", he was arrested in 1995 on a flight to Dublin with £500,000 in two suitcases.