Police inquiry into rail worker’s offensive chants about Caroline Flack

An off-duty ScotRail conductor whose offensive chants on a train about Caroline Flack were shared on social media is being investigated by police.
Transport police say that the incident is being investigated. Picture: John DevlinTransport police say that the incident is being investigated. Picture: John Devlin
Transport police say that the incident is being investigated. Picture: John Devlin

The football fan was filmed singing about the former Love Island presenter hours after her death.

The footage was taken while the supporter was en route to a Hibs away game at Kilmarnock two weeks ago.

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The incident happened after it was announced that Flack had been found dead in her flat in London.

The clip showed him chanting: “**** Caroline Flack, she won’t be punching boyfriends any more”, in an apparent reference to her alleged assault of Lewis Burton.

The video, which appears to have been withdrawn from Twitter, was viewed more than 200,000 times.

British Transport Police (BTP) said the incident was being investigated as potentially threatening or abusive behaviour.

Officers told one person who reported it to them: “I can confirm we are investigating this incident and had already received separate anonymous reports.”

A BTP spokesman said: “We’ll be working to identify those involved, then submit a report to the procurator fiscal for their consideration.”

ScotRail declined to comment on a claim the man was also subject to an internal disciplinary investigation.

One woman tweeted in response to the video: “Actual rotten. Imagine speaking foul of the dead. Actual disgusting.”

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Another woman, who contacted Scotland on Sunday, said she had been outraged at “the behaviour of a ScotRail employee who saw fit to go on a drunken tirade about the recently deceased Caroline Flack whilst travelling on a ScotRail train.

“The video was posted to Twitter and watched by 240,000 people.

“I was shocked and appalled by the behaviour [of the man], an Edinburgh conductor.

“He was travelling on a ScotRail train off duty and saw fit to shout and scream the most awful misogynistic abuse about a poor woman who [killed herself].

“Do ScotRail approve of such misogynistic views and find them acceptable?

“I thought ScotRail was a progressive employer who viewed diversity as a strength and had a commitment to equality.

“But it’s no secret the railway industry has historically been a very male-dominated place. We are working hard to change that and to encourage women and men from all backgrounds to consider a career with us.

“​I don’t think the public and certainly women would want to bump into [the man] on a ScotRail train they were travelling on.

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“As far as I’m led to believe, he is subject to an internal investigation by ScotRail into the incident and is writing an apology for his behaviour.”

A ScotRail spokesperson said: “We wouldn’t comment on any individuals.”

In Flack’s final Instagram post, published by her family after her death, the 40-year-old wrote that her “whole world and future was swept from under my feet” after being arrested for allegedly assaulting Burton last year.

Four days after her death, a coroner confirmed that she died by suicide on 15 February.

The inquest has been adjourned until August.