GP reported over abusive posts about son's rape victim

Ellie Wilson is a campaigner for survivors of male sexual violence

A GP from the Highlands has been the subject of reports to the General Medical Council (GMC) about abusive online comments concerning his rapist son's victim, the BBC understands.

Dr Andrew McFarlane's son Daniel was convicted of raping Ellie Wilson in 2022 and jailed.

She has since become a campaigner for survivors of male sexual violence.

Dr McFarlane has been posting comments on social media to allege that his son is the victim of a miscarriage of justice and has made dozens of deeply disparaging comments about Wilson.

BBC Scotland News has contacted Dr McFarlane for comment.

The story of Dr McFarlane's alleged campaign of online harassment being assessed by the doctor's watchdog was first reported in the Sunday Times at the weekend.

His son Daniel McFarlane was found guilty of two rape charges and sentenced to five years in prison in July 2022.

The attacks took place between December 2017 and February 2018 when McFarlane was a medical student at the University of Glasgow.

Since the conviction Ms Wilson, who waived her anonymity, has campaigned on behalf of victims.

In January 2023 Ms Wilson, who was a politics student and champion athlete at the university at the time, released audio on X of a conversation with McFarlane covertly captured the year after the attacks.

In the recording she asks him: "Do you not get how awful it makes me feel when you say 'I haven't raped you' when you have?"

McFarlane replies: "Ellie, we have already established that I have. The people that I need to believe me, believe me. I will tell them the truth one day, but not today."

When asked how he feels about what he has done, he says: "I feel good knowing I am not in prison."

Ms Wilson told BBC Scotland she had released the clip because many people wondered what evidence she had to secure a rape conviction.

'My heart sank'

Recently Ms Wilson became aware of abusive online posts from McFarlane's father, a practising GP in the Highlands.

He called Ms Wilson a manipulative liar - and said she threatened, blackmailed and abused his son.

Ms Wilson told the BBC: "My heart sank when I first read the stuff.

"I honestly just felt terrified when I first saw it and the more that it went on, the more I read, the greater the impact it had on me.

"I felt like I was being abused all over again. It felt like I was right back there trapped in that abusive relationship."

The BBC understands Dr McFarlane has been the subject of reports to the General Medical Council, who are assessing the case.

Ms Wilson said she did not think he should be able to be practising as a GP.

"I think he should be struck off," she said.

"I don't think that it's appropriate for someone who is responsible for dealing with vulnerable patients, many of whom might have been victims of sexual violence or domestic abuse themselves."

If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, help and advice is available through BBC Action Line.