A family-run Bournemouth bakery had been left facing emotional and financial strains after the premises were vandalised.
Red paint was thrown over the front of Banoffee Patisserie in Old Christchurch Road and the word ‘brothel’ spray painted on the corner of the neighbouring business, Bright School of English.
The incident took place early on Monday October 19 and was reported by a customer whose car was also targeted.
The owners believe the incident is unrelated to the bakery and expressed their concern about the negative impact the incident will have on the shop.
They say the vandalism has led to online users spreading misinformation and unfairly linking the business to gangs or suspicious activity.
Some online comments are creating links with similar previous incidents in other areas of England such as London.
The Instagram page Bournemouth Memes posted a video of the incident and stated: “This isn’t the first incident of its kind.” It reported that similar events occurred in October 2025, where several buildings were targeted and police treated two incidents as linked.
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Bournemouth’s BID (Business Improvement District) was contacted to help remove some of the paint but most of the cleaning and repainting will be funded and carried out by the owner Husam Aurow.
The family-run business said that online criticism has adversely affected the business as he raises concerns for how the staff and his customers are perceived.
Mr Aurow said: “It has financially and emotionally impacted us negatively.”
Police were contacted by a customer, the owner and his wife.
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