The father of a British cyclist shot dead by a French hunter has denied claims by his sister that he raped her as a child.

John Sutton today told MailOnline that a long-standing, bitter family rift lies behind allegations by Katie Toghill that her brother Marc Sutton sexually abused her when they were growing up.

Mr Sutton, 34, was killed on Saturday when a marksman mistook him for a wild animal as he rode his mountain bike along a trail in Montriond in the French Alps.

But speaking publicly for the first time, the cyclist's father John said: 'I have been to 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 attention-seeking.

John Sutton (right), the father of British cyclist Marc Sutton (left) who was shot by a hunter in France has denied claims by the rider's sister that he raped her as a child

Mr Sutton's girlfriend Jo Watts (right), has also spoken of her 'devastation' after Mr Sutton's own sister Katie Toghill accused him of repeatedly raping her

Mr Sutton, who was mistaken for a wild animal when he was killed by the huntsman was accused by his sister Katie Toghill, 32, of raping her for years while they were growing up

Katie (right) said that Mr Sutton, from Caerphilly, Wales, had taken advantage of her when she was a child before she finally told their mother Katrina what he had allegedly been doing

'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.'

The family rift was exposed when Katie, of Nantyglo, South Wales, told The Sun that she was glad he was dead - adding: 'He was a rapist c*** 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.'

Katie's claims have devastated Mr Sutton's grieving girlfriend Jo Watts, who has described the allegations as 'wicked lies' and her mother Wendy dismissed as 'ridiculous'.

'I'm shattered by his death, his life taken so violently by a hunter while he innocently rode his bike on a popular track,' Jo said.

'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,' she added

To add to Ms Watts' distress, Mr Sutton's mother Katrina branded him a 'monster' and an ex girlfriend who said she was happy he is dead.

Katrina posted about his death on Facebook. She wrote: '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.'

She added: 'This man was a monster. A bullet aimed at an animal. You aimed well. Karma called on you.'

Speaking today Ms Toghill told The Sun that she was raped and attacked by him around 100 times.

She said: 'They hunted the right animal. I want the killer to get off because he did us a favour. It was karma and I knew it would get him one day.'

Katie also said it was a 'shame he died so quickly' because she would have preferred him to have suffered.

Jo Watts, who was with Mr Sutton for nine years and said she believed they would grow old together. She said she is devastated by his death, compounded by the allegations against him

While living in the UK, Mr Sutton punched his ex and raped his younger sister repeatedly while they were children growing up, she said

Mr Sutton's sister Katie (left) and mum Katrina (right) said they were happy at the news that he was dead, only expressing regret that the bullet killed him instantly and he was not in pain

Hitting back, Jo, who set up a vegetarian restaurant Wild Beets with her partner when they moved to France six years ago, said the allegations went totally against the character of the man she knew and loved.

She said: 'The Marc I knew and loved was a kind, happy, loving man who would do anything for anyone.

'We were together for nine years and knew we'd grow old together.

'We had worked so hard to build up two businesses from scratch in the mountains where we made our home – Marc always the creative, ambitious, incredible chef and people person, me supporting him in every way.'

There has been a huge outpouring of grief from friends in the resort.

Jo 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.'

Jo's mother, 61-year-old Wendy added: 'I am here in Morzine supporting Jo after the horrendous events of Saturday.

'Apparently you can't libel the dead but people seem to think it is morally and ethically justified to hassle and harass Jo and Marc's family at a time of devastating trauma.

'This ridiculous story will be gone soon but the mental and emotional stress caused to Marc's family and friends is not so easy to dissipate.

'We urge all friends and family to ignore this story and to simply focus on the incredible outpouring of love and respect that has been shown so far by those people who truly knew him.'

Ms Watts said that she had been with Mr Sutton for nine years and believed that the pair (pictured) would grow old together

Mr Sutton, who ran a restaurant in the ski resort of Les Gets, died instantly after being struck by a single bullet by the marksman who mistook him for a wild animal while on his bike

Jo said she the allegations would not hinder her efforts to push for a change in the hunting regulations in France.

She said: 'Marc's many friends are putting all their efforts into a campaign to make the mountains a safer place for everyone, to make his death count.

'We won't allow these allegations to distract us from the important life-and-death work we're doing to get reform of hunting laws. Innocent people die every year at the hands of these hunters and it has to stop now. If we can save one life, Marc's death won't be in vain.'

Before he died, Mr Sutton posted on Facebook about his gilded life on Facebook.

When he opened his restaurant, the businessman said it was tribute to the 'hard work' of himself and Jo.

He wrote: 'I still can't believe that this is ours! Hard work does pay off and dreams do come true.'

However, his 'dream' life was not what he deserved, Katie said.

She went on: '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.'

Sutton had a history of bad behaviour, according to his mother.

She said he tried to stab a school child in his class with a dinner knife and was arrested aged eleven. He went into care shortly afterwards.

An ex girlfriend of Sutton also said she 'cried with relief' when she was told he was dead.

The woman also claimed she was furious posts online made him out to be 'an angel'.

Another girlfriend had her cheek broken by Sutton when they lived in Preston and was jailed for six months.

Cycling enthusiast Mr Sutton died instantly after a marksman aged 22 shot him because he mistook him for prey

Mr Sutton fled the UK to Ibiza before travelling through Asia then moving to France where he died.

Prosecutors in Thonon, France, have opened an enquiry into 'aggravated manslaughter', and a 'full investigation is in progress.

His death was the latest in a serious of shooting tragedies involving innocent passers-by being killed or severely wounded during France's hunting season, which started last month.

It happened during the first few days of the season.

In October 2017, a woman sitting in her garden was killed after a stray hunter's bullet passed through her garden hedge.

In November, a deer hunter who was just about to get married was gored to death by a cornered deer who charged him with his antlers in a wood near Paris.

In 2016, there were 18 deaths during hunting accidents in France, and scores of injuries.

An FCO spokeswoman said : 'We are in contact with the local authorities about the death of a British man in France, and we are providing assistance to his family.'