Caroline Flack's mum says presenter was 'easy target for cruel people'

Caroline Flack was found dead in February
PA

Caroline Flack's mother has hit out at people who "pretended to love" her daughter before she died, saying she was an "easy target for cruel people".

Chris Flack also criticised whoever was responsible for a photograph from the bloody scene of an alleged assault the 40-year-old TV presenter committed on her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, which was leaked to a newspaper.

Mrs Flack said publication of the photograph, which contained Flack’s blood and not her boyfriend’s, “devastated” the TV star.

She issued a statement on Thursday evening after coroner Mary Hassell found Flack killed herself because she knew she was being prosecuted for assault and could not face the press coverage.

Caroline Flack and her mother

Mrs Flack’s statement did not identify anybody by name, although she told the inquest at Poplar Coroner’s Court this week that her daughter told her Mr Burton had taken the photograph and passed it to a former partner.

Flack believed Mr Burton had cheated on her at the time of the attack, the inquest heard.

Flack believed Mr Burton had cheated on her at the time of the attack (Joe Giddens/PA Wire )
Joe Giddens/PA Wire

In her statement, Mrs Flack said: “Many people loved and supported Caroline, they know who they are and I thank them all.

“Many people pretended to love Caroline and took advantage of her kindness and they know who they are.

“Someone took a photo that night and sent it to another person who sold it to the press – and this devastated Caroline. You know what you did.”

She added: “Caroline you were loved. I love you. Those that would have harmed you can’t touch you now.”

Mrs Flack described her daughter as “beautiful, fun, opinionated, kind, loyal, full of confidence, and full of fears”.

But she added: “Because she was successful and because she was so open about her life and her loves, she became an easy target for cruel and spiteful people who, if they knew the pain they caused, would be ashamed.”

Mrs Flack also said the CPS and the police “came to cover up” their role in Flack’s death.

The inquest on found Ms Flack killed herself because she knew she was being prosecuted for assault and could not face the press coverage
AFP via Getty Images

She said: “I believe she (Flack) was a celebrity who some felt needed to be made an example of, as opposed to being treated as anyone else would have been, which is all Caroline wanted.

“I don’t believe Caroline was treated as anyone else would have been.”

Earlier Mrs Flack angrily confronted the police officer who pushed for her daughter to be prosecuted, telling her: “I just think you should be disgusted with yourself.”

Mrs Flack said the criminal charge was “life changing” for her daughter Caroline
Jeremy Selwyn

Questioning Detective Inspector Lauren Bateman this morning, Mrs Flack said the criminal charge was “life changing” for her daughter and urged the officer to think carefully before making future decisions.

“If it was an ordinary person, you wouldn’t have been bothered with that that night”, she said. “I know the world, I’ve seen domestic abuse, and I just think you should be disgusted with yourself because nothing can bring Caroline back but this didn’t need to happen.”

Saying she hoped the officer regretted her decision, she said: “That girl killed herself because you put an appeal through.”

Both the CPS and the Metropolitan Police said the case was dealt with fairly and properly.

The inquest on Thursday found Flack killed herself because she knew she was being prosecuted for assault and could not face the press coverage.

Her mental health deteriorated at the time following her arrest in December.

She was found hanged at her home on February 15 2020.

For confidential support the Samaritans can be contacted for free, around-the-clock, 365 days a year on 116 123 or samaritans.org

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