More than 19,000 people have backed calls for a Cambridge student to be kicked out of university after he was filmed burning a £20 note in front of a homeless man.
Law student Ronald Coyne was filmed setting the note alight while dressed in formal wear in the early hours of the morning.
He was expelled from the university’s Conservative Association after footage of the incident was shared on Snapchat.
Rough sleeper Ryan Davies told the Cambridge News on Friday that he was the man who was taunted by Mr Coyne in Bridge Street on February 2 after he had been asking passers-by for spare change.
He told the newspaper that the teenager set fire to the note and said: “How’s that for change, I’ve changed it into flames.”
Calls to have him kicked out of the university have quickly gathered momentum with more than 19,000 people signing a change.org petition by 5pm on Sunday.
Those giving it their backing denounced the “utterly disgusting behaviour” and said it was a “disgrace to our great university”.
Another added: “People like him should be made to work hundreds of hours in a homeless shelter. Shame on him.”
The Pembroke College student’s mother called the incident “surprising” and added: “We’re not toffs, he’s not a toff.”
Mr Coyne, who is believed to be a distant relative of Nicola Sturgeon, was communications officer at the Tory association.
A spokesman for the association said: “There is no room for people who behave like that in our association, any other university association, or frankly our university.
“This disgusting and abhorrent behaviour occurred completely independently of Cuca.”
A university spokesman told the Times: “We expect our students to treat others with respect, courtesy and consideration at all times, and the university takes allegations of unacceptable behaviour very seriously.”
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