BBC Sport Editor Dan Roan caught on camera at Leicester City memorial claiming beauty queen was club owner's 'mistress'

The BBC’s sports editor has apologised after he was caught on camera mocking Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s marriage at the scene of his helicopter crash.

Dan Roan’s remarks were picked up microphones outside the King Power Stadium, where a sea of flowers and candles had been laid in tribute to the Thai businessman.

Mr Roan was overheard saying: "The mistress who died in the crash…otherwise known as a member of staff…i.e. mistress.

“If you were a billionaire, it’s relatively expected, so we shouldn’t judge.”

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As he made his remark, he was standing just metres from where Mr Srivaddhanaprabha’s family had come to lay wreaths earlier on Monday, alongside Leicester’s first team squad

The recording was later posted on social media, sparking outrage among football fans. Some accused him of being "disrespectful" and "thoughtless", while another said: "Don't come anywhere near my football club again."

Mr Roan, BBC News’ sports editor since 2014, has since said that he meant “absolutely no offence” by the comments.

He wrote on Twitter: “Just want to say sorry for some comments made in a private, off-air conversation earlier with a colleague. Absolutely no offence intended."

A BBC spokesman said: "This was an ill-judged comment made in a private off-air conversation for which Dan has apologised."

Mr Srivaddhanaprabha was killed, along with two staff members, the pilot and a passenger, when the aircraft fell from the sky and burst into flames outside the King Power Stadium at about 8.30pm on Saturday.

The four other victims were employees Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz, who was also a professional pilot.

Mr Swaffer has been hailed a hero for steering the spinning aircraft away from crowds of people on the ground.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is carrying out an investigation into what caused the Agusta Westland AW169 helicopter to crash a few hours after the Foxes drew 1-1 with West Ham.