Shot cyclist’s family at war over claims that he was a rapist
THE family of a British cyclist shot dead in the French Alps were at war last night after his sister’s claims that he raped her were dismissed as ‘lies’ by his father.
Marc Sutton, who was accidentally killed by a hunter, was described as an ‘animal’ by Katie Toghill, 32.
She said her 34-year-old brother deserved to die because he repeatedly raped her when they were children. Mr Sutton’s estranged mother Katrina Toghill backed up the claim, and wrote on Facebook: ‘I hope you rot in hell, Marc Thomas Sutton.
‘My only disappointment is you died instantly. For any horrified people reading this, I’m not some vicious troll. I’m the woman who gave birth to him.’
But Mr Sutton’s grieving father John, 62, furiously denied the allegations.
Speaking at his home in Newport, South Wales, he said: ‘I have been to the police and made a report that these allegations are all lies, completely false, and it’s harassment. This is all about a family feud, it’s bitterness and jealousy, and attentionseeking. I’m devastated they would try to blacken my son’s name now that he’s dead – it’s hard enough to come to terms with how he died.
‘I hope legal action will stop them from causing any more damage.’
Mr Sutton’s stepmother, who asked not
‘The allegations are all lies’
to be named, said: ‘It’s all lies. Total lies. They are attention- seeking liars and they’re ruining our lives. Mark’s father is in bits, he is totally devastated.’
Mr Sutton’s girlfriend of nine years, Jo Watts, added: ‘I’m shattered by his death, his life taken so violently by a hunter while he innocently rode his bike. Now, to add to all that, I’m devastated people have chosen to make these allegations when Marc is not here to defend himself. His friends know the real Marc.’
Miss Watts and Mr Sutton set up a vegetarian restaurant, Wild Beets, when they moved to France six years ago, two years after they first met. She said: ‘Marc was so popular in the community, people warmed to him immediately because of his empathy, his adventurous spirit and love of nature – he was always there for his friends and no one had a bad word to say about him.’
Mr Sutton was killed on Saturday while riding his mountain bike in Montriond, close to the Les Gets Alpine ski resort. A 22- year- old hunter was treated in hospital for shock and is now under investigation by French police. He was with a group of about 20 other hunters when the tragedy occurred.
Mr Sutton’s sister waived her anonymity as an alleged rape victim to tell how he raped her when she was eight at the home they shared with their mother in Caerphilly, South Wales.
The mother- of- one, from Nantyglo, South Wales, told The Sun: ‘He was a rapist **** and I’m glad he’s dead. When I heard he had been killed I felt utter relief, it was a massive burden off my back. I was just relieved he couldn’t hurt us or anyone again.
‘He deserved to be shot like an animal – he was the biggest animal there was.’
Miss Toghill said her brother was also abusive, adding: ‘He kicked me, put hands round my neck, held screwdrivers and knives to my neck and threatened to kill me. He punched me and pushed me down the stairs, and jammed my foot in the car door.
‘I want everyone to know what scum he was. I’m fed up of the nice messages I’ve read saying “poor guy”.’ Mr Sutton’s mother, of Cwmtillery, South Wales, said she did not know about the rape claims until her daughter was 17 and enrolled as an Army medic.
She said Mr Sutton was an unruly child and was arrested at the age of 11 for threatening another child with a knife.
‘He deserved to be shot’
She said he then went into care for 18 months because of his behaviour, but would rape his sister during his day visits at home. The attacks stopped when she was 13.
Yesterday, one of Mr Sutton’s ex- girlfriends, Ann-Marie Mounty, told how she ‘cried with relief’ at hearing the news of his death.
Miss Mounty, of Caerphilly, said: ‘He was a violent and possessive bully. He smashed a bathroom door and was covered in cuts. I couldn’t believe it when I heard he had died. I felt relieved when I got the news. He deserves what he got. He was not a nice man.’
Another girlfriend had her cheek broken by Mr Sutton when they lived in Preston, Lancashire. He was jailed for six months as a result, it was claimed yesterday.
Prosecutors in France have opened an inquiry into ‘aggravated manslaughter’, and a ‘full investigation’ is under way. The Crown Prosecution Service said it would not comment on the case.