Caroline Flack’s mother, Christine, has opened up about the devastating final weeks of her daughter’s life — and how she believes fatal mistakes by the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) cost the Love Island host her future.
The beloved TV presenter, who died by suicide aged 40 in February 2020, was awaiting trial after being charged with assaulting her boyfriend, Lewis Burton. Now, in a deeply emotional Disney+ documentary, Christine reveals her fight to uncover what went wrong — and why her daughter was “pushed to the edge.”
Christine says she still cannot comprehend how a detective inspector overruled an initial CPS recommendation to simply caution Caroline after the December 2019 incident at her London home. “It would have changed everything,” she explains. “Because they pursued the prosecution, she had to leave her house, her job — it just changed her world.”
A handwritten note left by Caroline read: “Please let this court case be dropped, and myself and Lewis find harmony.” Christine insists that a series of bad decisions, compounded by online abuse and tabloid pressure, left her daughter feeling trapped. “Because of a police error, my daughter’s died,” she says bluntly.
Former CPS chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal, who reviewed the case documents, agrees the prosecution made no sense. “There was no history of coercion or abuse. Mr Burton never wanted this case. The very worst outcome should have been a caution,” he tells Christine. “Caroline would still be with us if certain decisions weren’t taken in that month or two.”
Ex-Met detective Jess McDonald adds: “So much of this case screams mishandling.” She points to an email where an inspector rejected a caution because there was “no clear admission of guilt” — despite Caroline confessing 12 times in a signed statement. Her lawyer, Paul Morris, claims the prosecution continued only to “save face.”
In late December 2019, Caroline’s mental health rapidly declined. Her team arranged for her to see a psychiatrist, and a medical report was sent to the CPS declaring her unfit to stand trial. “It was ignored,” says her agent, Louisa Booth.
By February, Caroline’s despair was spiralling. She texted a friend: “I won’t get a fair trial. I don’t think I can cope with the shame.” When told the case would proceed, she messaged: “My life is over.” Hours later, she took her own life after reportedly drinking from the minibar and taking pills.
Christine says she is determined that her daughter’s story will not be forgotten. “They won’t admit they were wrong — but they need to. Because Caroline deserved better.”
Both the CPS and Metropolitan Police have denied wrongdoing, though the Met later apologised for poor record-keeping. An official review found “no misconduct,” but Christine’s quest for accountability continues.
