A BEAUTY salon owner who managed to turn her life around after a period of drug taking and suffering physical abuse has been crowned winner of a national entrepreneurial award.

Grace Prestidge, 23, who owns The Little Beautique in High Street, Witney, said she was amazed to get a Prince’s Trust award that recognises the success of those who have overcome great barriers.

A rebellious streak in her teenage years saw Miss Prestidge, of Burwell Meadow, get involved with the wrong crowd, drop out of school and leave home at the age of 15.

A year later she was taking drugs, and suffered physical and verbal abuse. At 17 she also became pregnant and started to feel low about her future.

Miss Prestidge, who also has Tourette’s syndrome, said: “I didn’t want to be just a young single mother relying on benefits and had always wanted to make a go of running my own business but had no idea how to go about it.”

Showing great courage and determination, she got herself clean from drugs, reconciled with her parents, gained her GCSEs while a single parent to son Ollie and put herself through college to gain qualifications in beauty therapy and nail technology.

Miss Prestidge said: “The Prince’s Trust gave me the belief I needed to get my life on track and to build a successful business.

“Running my own business gives me something to get up for in the morning.

“My son is now five and I want to make him proud – hopefully that’s what I’m doing now.”