A Sydney escort has been charged with manslaughter over the death of beloved tradie

A private school-educated escort with a science degree has been charged over the death of a tradesman who was mysteriously discovered lying in the stairwell of a Sydney apartment building.

Celia Bean, 39, has been charged with manslaughter over the death of former reality TV contestant Paul Browne more than a year after his body was discovered in October 2021. 

Sydney escort Celia Bean, 39, was a promising University of Sydney student long before facing charges of manslaughter

Before she became an escort, Bean was a horse-loving student at the exclusive Frensham School in the NSW Southern Highlands, an all-girls school that costs $35,000-a-year.     

‘To the greatest times I’ve known and to my darling teddy who I’ll never see again… I love you’, Bean shared on her Facebook account in 2019 alongside a photo of her childhood horse.

After finishing school, Bean attended the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2005. She also started a postgraduate diploma in education at the nearby University of Technology Sydney. 

On her LinkedIn account, Ms Bean said while she has an ‘extensive knowledge of administrative environments’ she is working toward a career in neuroscience to ‘put my degree to use’.

Celia Bean (pictured) in May 2004 at a Frensham equestrian dressage event – the private school she attended in the Southern Highlands

However, in the decade following her graduation, she was worked as a corporate receptionist, in a supermarket and more recently as a ‘temp’ worker rather than in an scientific roles.

Paul Browne (pitcured) body was found in a  Sydney stairwell in 2021

Strike Force Bernacchi was established to investigate Mr Browne’s death with Detective Inspector Phil Hallinan saying the alleged victim’s family were ‘devastated’.

Police allege the 33-year-old Browne, a much-loved construction manager died of a drug overdose after consuming heroin and methamphetamine, which Ms Bean and her friend Shayne Johnson had organised to be supplied to him.

The tradie is believed to have driven to Ms Bean’s apartment block from his home in the neighbouring suburb on October 7 2021.

More than 19 hours later, his body was discovered in a stairwell, police say. 

Ms Bean and Johnson – also known as ‘Teece’ – were arrested before Christmas and remain before the courts. 

 The pair have been been refused bail and is next due to face Downing Centre Local Court on May 25. 

A forensic pathologist previously told Parramatta Local Court that Mr Browne may have survived if medical assistance had been provided earlier.

In a text message exchange between Ms Bean and Mr Johnson, police allege the pair tried to distance themselves from the incident and claimed not to be responsible for Mr Browne’s death.

A fresh-faced Celia at a racing event before her life took a downward spiral

The revelation comes as footage of emerged of Mr Browne auditioning for the singing show X-Factor in 2011, showing the construction worker in high spirits and having a laugh as he performed a ballad by Robbie Williams. 

When his audition as dubbed ‘terrible’ by all four judges, the young man said it was likely because ‘my mouth is a little dry’ and ‘the song wasn’t in my key’.

Mr Browne’s mate Isaac Parry said in November, 2021 that he’s ‘100 per cent sure’ the tradie was partying – a euphemism for shared drug use – with Ms Bean rather than using her sexual services.

Mr Browne was just 22 when he was dared to perform ‘Angels’ by Robbie Williams on stage in 2011 as part of an X-Factor audition

‘I honestly don’t think he was there to pay for sex,’ Mr Parry told Daily Mail Australia in an exclusive interview in 2021.

‘He would have been partying with an escort as friends.

‘He was a good looking boy.’