Marc Sutton: Family feud erupts over rape allegations against cyclist killed in Alps

A family feud has erupted following the death of 34-year-old Marc Sutton, the cyclist who was accidentally shot by a hunter in the French Alps.

Mr Sutton’s mother Katrina Toghill celebrated the fact he had died, saying in a Facebook post she hoped he would “rot in hell” due to the years of sexual abuse he allegedly inflicted on his younger sister.

Katie Toghill, 32, told The Sun her brother “would take advantage of me in his bedroom while mum was downstairs” and had raped her about 100 times. Her mother told the paper Mr Sutton had not denied doing so when challenged later in life.

Ms Toghill had waived her right to anonymity as an alleged victim of a sexual offence.

But Mr Sutton’s father, John Sutton, blamed a “family feud” for the claims, adding: “I’m devastated they would try to blacken his name now that he’s dead, it’s hard enough to come to terms with how he died.”

And the dead cyclist’s girlfriend, Jo Watts, 35, said: “I’m shattered by his death, his life taken so violently by a hunter while he innocently rode his bike on a popular track. Now to add to all that I’m devastated people have chosen now to make these allegations – nothing to do with how he died – when Marc is not here to defend himself.”

The couple ran Wild Beets Kitchen in the Les Gets ski resort.

French prosecutors said Mr Sutton, originally from Caerphilly, was cycling down a mountain in Montriond on Saturday evening when he passed a group of hunters and was hit by a bullet, which killed him instantly.

A 22-year-old man was taken to hospital with shock and was reportedly being investigated on suspicion of aggravated manslaughter following the incident.

Additional reporting by PA