The Grinch that stole Christmas in Chapel Allerton: Man destroys Leeds beauty salon’s decorations with knife

The £400 worth of Christmas decorations displayed on the windows of Pout Beauty Salon in Chapel Allerton have been destroyed with a knife.

Owner Clare Scott-Ellis watched a man cut down her display from CCTV footage on Sunday night.

Clare’s young daughter has since named him “The Grinch that stole Christmas in Chapel Allerton”.

The owner of the Harrogate Road salon said: “All my clients had said how beautiful the decorations were and how stunning the salon looked.

“They were a boost for everyone in Chapel Allerton after such a rubbish year and it’s meant to be a season of goodwill and festive cheer.

“I’m sad and disappointed about the decorations but what is more concerning is that someone is walking round North Leeds with a knife.”

Clare said that the salon was well-illuminated and CCTV footage showed the man approach the salon, check around and then begin cutting the decorations down.

She added: “When I first knew that the decorations were gone I thought it would have been done by a group of kids or someone drunk, not a man with a knife with intent.

“In the end they are only Christmas decorations but it’s the principle and what if someone had approached him about what he was doing not realising he had an actual knife.

“Our decorations made the high street look great and it’s just pathetic.”

The decorations were destroyed at around 8.30pm on December 13.

West Yorkshire Police has recorded a report of theft at the location.