A PRIDE flag was snatched from a garden then set alight.

A man has been charged with committing a homophobic related hate crime related arson following the shocking late night incident in Brighton.

The flag was taken from a garden in Beaconsfield Road and burned shortly before 10pm on Saturday.

This would have been the weekend when Brighton and Hove Pride was celebrated across the city’s streets.

But people were instead urged to mark the occasion at home through a digital festival after the parade and festival were cancelled due to coronavirus.

Moulay Abdelhakim Ismaili of Beaconsfield Road in Brighton, has been detained on suspicion of committing a homophobic hate-related crime .

The 36-year-old was remanded in custody to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court today.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “We are committed to fully investigating reports of hate crime.”

He added: “If you have been a victim of or have witnessed a hate crime, we urge you to either report online, call us on 101, or 999 if it is an emergency.”