THIS is the little girl whose life spiralled into a world of drugs and prostitution, far away from her days playing on the streets in Selby - and whose partial remains have now been discovered in woods.

Lyndsey Bourne, 28, originally from Selby, had been working as a prostitute in Leeds and was last seen in the city around mid-September.

On Saturday, West Yorkshire Police said that an upper and lower left leg which had been discovered a week ago at Woodhouse Ridge, in Meanwood, Leeds, had been identified as Lyndsey's by a tattoo on her leg, depicting two cherries on a green stalk.

A friend of Lyndsey's, who had known her since she was a child playing in Abbots Road, Selby, said Lyndsey had been unhappy since she was a young girl.

"The last time I saw her she looked shocking," said the friend.

"She was always unhappy and when I think of what happened to her, I just think of how low she must have sunk.

"I think it (drugs) was her way of escaping. She had such a sad life. She spent all her life being unhappy.

"She was a beautiful little girl," said the friend, who did not wish to be named.

"I always found her quite a loving child."

The friend added that Lyndsey had been a child model.

She had always been really proud that she had been featured playing a game in a TV advert, but she had a bad life.

The friend said that Lyndsey had moved in with a boyfriend and that she began "dabbling" with drugs when she was about 16.

Later, Lyndsey was in and out of the courts for a string of thefts and motoring offences.

On one occasion, a court heard that Lyndsey had been released on parole but was back in custody before she could get home to Selby, having been caught stealing clothes.

During her time in Selby, former Selby High School pupil Lyndsey lived in Abbots Road, Charles Street and Riverside Close, in Barlby.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said today that their search of woodland was continued and inquiries were continuing.

He issued another appeal for anyone who knew Lyndsey, including clients, to get in touch with West Yorkshire Police on 0113 2413459 or phone CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

Updated: 10:24 Monday, October 18, 2004