The mother of a British Olympian has been left “disgusted” after a flag flown outside her house was torn down and burned. Caroline Peaty, mother of triple Olympic gold medallist swimmer Adam Peaty, claimed CCTV footage showed two young people removing a number of the flags overnight on Saturday.
Ms Peaty then said she discovered the remnants of burned flags the following morning. She explained: “I was disgusted, really, because I’m proud of our country and I’m proud of the people that fought for our country.” The Olympian’s mother added: “It’s nothing to do with racism, this is our country, lots of young men lost their lives for us to have the freedom to fly our flags,” reports the BBC.
Flags were reportedly torn down and burned in a UK town (Image: Getty)
A neighbour has reportedly contacted the police over the burned flags, however, she said they had been told there was little they could do without more evidence.
Staffordshire Police told The Express that officers attended the scene, reviewed the CCTV, and it is conducting an investigation.
Ms Peaty had not hung up the flags in question herself, but a number had been attached to lamp posts on her street in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Ms Peaty said the flags had given her a “really good feeling” and reflected a sense of pride in Britain.
She added that she always flew a flag on her own property to recognise her son’s achievements for his country.
She told BBC Radio Stoke it was “a bit upsetting” to feel as if there was a lack of respect towards the country or people’s property.
“It’s OK for [the vandals] to ruin people’s property, take things down without permission – so what does that say to our younger generation? That they can do what they want?”
Staffordshire Police told The Express: “We received a report at 9.20pm on Sunday (21 September) of a group of men removing flags and setting fire to them on Byrds Lane, Uttoxeter.
“Officers attended the scene and reviewed CCTV footage of the area at the time. Anyone with any information which might help our investigation is asked to contact us.”
Anyone with information can call 101, quoting incident 660 of 21 September, or use Live Chat on the Staffordshire Police website. To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
