Pride flag stolen for sixth time, say salon owners

The owners of a salon in Leicester have said they have had a Pride flag stolen for a sixth time, describing it as an "upsetting, targeted act of vandalism".

George Waterfield and Darren Cunningham, who opened The Secret Garden in Queens Road in 2019, said the theft happened on 22 February.

The flag had been installed higher up the building in September 2025 after previous thefts, including one earlier the same month.

Waterfield said: "It's heartbreaking that this keeps happening. It feels targeted and it makes both us and our customers feel singled out in a place that is meant to be safe and welcoming."

The co-owners said they had suffered "repeated attacks", which had become "very distressing".

The latest incident happened just five months after the last reported flag theft, which, at the time, police said was being investigated as a hate crime.

Waterfield and Cunningham said the response from the community after the theft in September 2025 was "overwhelmingly positive", with Pride flags and messages of support posted through the salon door.

They said they wanted to turn the moment into a "public show of solidarity" and installed the replacement flag during a community gathering attended by about 140 people.

After the latest theft, Cunningham said: "What has kept us going every time is the kindness of the community.

"Last time, people we'd never met made a point of showing their support and standing with us. It was a reminder that Leicester is full of love and allies."

Despite the repeated vandalism, the pair said they would "not be intimidated into silence".

"We will not back down, we will keep putting the flag back up," Waterfield added.

"Inclusive salons are so important, and acts of vandalism like this remind us why.

"Our salon represents safety and belonging for so many people, and that's what matters more than ever."

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