Caroline Flack, the Love Island presenter, took her own life at her London flat three weeks before she was due in court for what her management called a "show trial" for an alleged assault on her boyfriend.

Flack, 40, had stepped down from her position fronting the ITV show after she was accused of attacking Lewis Burton. Her next court hearing was scheduled for March 4.

Her management last night described it as a "show trial" which was "without merit and not in the public interest".

It added in a statement: "The Crown Prosecution Service pursued this when they knew not only how very vulnerable Caroline was but also that the alleged victim did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events.

"The CPS should look at themselves today and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline."

A CPS spokesperson said: “Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of Caroline Flack. Given the tragic circumstances, we will not comment on the specifics of this case at this stage.”