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EVERYONE talks about starting weight loss jabs – but what about stopping them?
If you’re worried about the food noise roaring back with a vengeance, you’re not alone. Here, we reveal the secrets to maintaining your goal weight – on and off drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy.
“Reaching your goal weight, whatever that weight may be, is a remarkable achievement worth celebrating, but the journey doesn’t stop there,” Dr Sophie Dix, head of medical affairs at MedExpress, tells Sun Health.
“Obesity is a chronic health condition and maintaining your goal weight requires ongoing effort.”
So what do you need to know if the scales are inching in your favour?
Hitting your target weight doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to bin doses you haven’t used, or even refrain from ordering another pen.
“[Patients] can stay on their current dose, reduce it, take a break from treatment, or stop altogether,” explains Dr Dix.
“Each of these approaches can support long-term weight maintenance, depending on what’s right for the individual.”
If you want to stay on the medication, you’ll still require a prescription and in most cases, this will be decided by your provider with, or without, your input.
Some jabbers see themselves “on GLP-1s for life“, while others are eyeing up the ‘microdosing‘ trend. But the common theme is the fear of ‘food noise’ returning and piling all the weight lost back on, not to mention a worry all the associated health benefits being lost.
Studies have shown that, on average, people regain 14 per cent of the lost body weight when they stop Mounjaro completely.
Most are keen to live a life without them, however, whether due to cost or because they have gained enough information on how to maintain a healthy weight.
After all, the jabs are not a “quick fix” and should be used in conjunction with learning healthy diet and exercise habits that you can carry on afterwards.
Here, we reveal everything you need to know about the next steps…
SOME people start tapering off the drugs once they have hit their goal weight, rather than stopping them abruptly – the risk of which is a sudden surge of appetite and being tempted into old habits again.
“Tapering is a gentle way to step down the dose over time so the body can adjust as appetite returns,” explains Roj Helin Parlakyildiz, clinical pharmacist at Voy.
Tapering may look like reducing the dose by 2.5mg each month.
At Morrisons Clinic, they say: “After an initial 12 months, it is an option to then reduce the dose each month as you taper off the medication.
“How long you taper down will depend on the maximum dose you reached and how successful you feel your treatment is.
“Combined with the diet and lifestyle changes you’ve been making, this will increase your chances of sustained weight loss, even after you stop using the injections.”
IT is understandable why so many jabbers go for what’s known as the ‘maintenance phase’.
Whether this is available to you or not will depend on your provider.
Ms Parlakyildiz says at Voy they define a maintenance dose as “the lowest effective dose that keeps hunger and weight stable”.
She adds: “Some patients may need this for several months or longer, especially if they’ve lost a significant amount of weight and want additional support maintaining it.”
Typically, Ms Parlakyildiz says, this is “a lower dose that helps prevent weight re-gain and supports appetite regulation during the transition to long-term lifestyle-based management”.
If your prescriber is happy for you to continue taking the drugs, prepare for prices to roughly stay the same.
Dr Dix says: “During the maintenance phase, treatment costs generally remain the same as during the weight loss phase.
“However, if a patient chooses to move to a lower maintenance dose, the cost may decrease accordingly.
“In general, lower doses are more affordable while higher doses typically come at a higher cost.”
Interestingly, Dr Dix says at MedExpress: “Patients can choose their maintenance dose.
“We provide health information to help patients make an informed decision.
“Prescriptions are always reviewed by a qualified health professional to ensure that the dose is suitable for each patient.”
At Voy, the maintenance dose is clinician-advised, but the patient has a say.
If it’s been over six months since your last treatment, you’ll need to restart treatment from the beginning.
Dr Sophie Dix
An individualised approach is key here – regardless of your provider and its rules, it’s claimed that a person’s circumstances will be taken into consideration.
MedExpress, for example, can prescribe treatment with no fixed end date, “as long as the treatment continues to benefit the patient, they’re not experiencing serious side effects and their BMI remains above 23.5”.
At Pharmacy2U, however, they say: “You’ll likely be removed from treatment once you hit your goal weight.”
If patients drop below a healthy weight, then they must cease medication.
ASDA Online Doctor say: “Mounjaro is meant for long-term treatment, but this does not mean you have to take it for the rest of your life, that will depend on your circumstances.”
A LOT of the Mounjaro and Wegovy gang are going rogue and doing maintenance their own way, with microdosing.
You may have seen on social media that instead of using the full weekly dose of their pen, they are only administering a small amount, saving the rest for upcoming weeks.
For example, they might use a dose smaller than the starting dose of Mounjaro (which is 2.5mg per week), such as 1mg. They would, therefore, get 10 doses out of a 2.5mg pen designed to last one month.
The obvious reason is to spread the cost and minimise side effects, while getting enough appetite suppression to reap benefits.
But microdosing is not recommended by healthcare professionals because the pens are not designed to be used this way and have a 30 day expiry date from opening.
Mounjaro, for example, should be kept in the fridge, and after first use, “patients may store their pen at room temperature up to 30 °C and dispose of it after 30 days”, says the manufacturer Eli Lilly.
This is line with medicine guidelines more broadly, but it is not clear what the risks are of dosing up post-30 days.
There have been studies on small doses of semaglutide (Wegovy) which do show that weight loss is achievable, but not of tirzepatide (Mounjaro). The bottom line is, there is no robust evidence of the safety and efficacy of microdosing in the long-term.
Therefore, you do not know what you are bargaining for, or if it’s even worth it.
This means that microdosing, if prescribed privately, would be deemed “off-label” – although not illegal, a medical professional has the option to prescribe it to a patient, using their own clinical judgement, outside the official guidelines or licensing.
IN theory, experts believe you could use weight loss jabs forever, though scientific studies don’t stretch beyond a few years.
If you are being prescribed the medicine by the NHS you will only receive it for a max of two years.
Pharmacy2U says: “The highest maintenance dose of Mounjaro (15mg for 72 weeks) has no clinically known adverse long-term effects.”
That doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Rather, that these drugs haven’t been around for that long and long-term studies are limited.
Continuing the meds, even after fitting in your skinny jeans, may actually have health benefits beyond keeping you slim.
Weight loss provider Numan flags that trials on semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) show it “reduced the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including a heart attack or stroke”.
WHAT about if you decide to stop (say, over Christmas or a holiday), can you jump straight back into jabbing?
Dr Dix says: “If resuming treatment after a break of less than eight weeks, patients typically have two options: they can return to their previous dose – if it was effective and side effects were manageable – or move up to the next dose, to further support weight loss following the recommended schedule.
“If it’s been over six months since your last treatment, you’ll need to restart treatment from the beginning.
LIKE any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects.
From vomiting to indigestion and pancreatitis, here’s what to look out for.
Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts.
Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea.
Diarrhoea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset.
Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation.
Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort.
Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss.
Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating.
Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon.
Thyroid tumors: There’s a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic.
Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
“If you’re resuming treatment after a break of between eight weeks and six months, patients will need to drop down doses dependent on the length of time since their last injection.
“This is to help patients tolerate the medication and avoid side effects.”
Weight gain can occur when you stop taking Mounjaro, so it’s necessary to continue eating healthily and regularly exercising
Dr Sophie Dix
At Voy, all restarters are reviewed by clinicians to confirm the safest entry point.
“It depends on the person, side effects, prior dose, and the length of the break,” says Ms Parlakyildiz.
Well Pharmacy adds: “Whether cost, side effects or your expectations have affected your use of the medication, you can talk to your healthcare provider about starting again with the right mindset.”
The time it takes for the drug to be eliminated from your body is “approximately 25 days”, says Dr Dix.
“This is why patients often continue to feel its effects for several weeks after stopping treatment,” says Dr Dix.
At least half of the medicine is expelled after about five days, however, which is why the dosing schedule is once a week.
This means that missing the odd dose isn’t the end of the world (you’ll still likely have some appetite suppression).
Ms Parlakyildiz says it’s important to be aware of drug elimination when making “decisions about restarting treatment, pregnancy planning, and surgery”.
For example, the Medicines & Healthcare Regulatory Agency says to “avoid getting pregnant while using GLP-1 medicines”. For this reason, you should make sure you are taking contraception while on it.
ALL outlets should offer consistent, medical support while you’re taking the medication, but follow-up care once you stop can be patchier.
“At MedExpress, we provide nutritional and lifestyle advice throughout a patient’s weight loss journey,” says Dr Dix.
“While we don’t currently have any specific lifestyle support for patients coming off medication, we’re looking into providing this in the near future.”
Voy does offer support, says Ms Parlakyildiz, adding: “Patients can speak to a clinician within minutes via the in-app chat or hotline.
“Our health coaches also provide tailored nutrition and behaviour support.
“If appetite rebounds or weight starts to regain, we review quickly and may recommend a short maintenance phase or brief re-titration to steady progress.”
WHETHER you stop, maintain or taper, all of the GLP-1 providers are clear that you can’t just start eating crisps and biscuits again and skip the gym.
Dr Dix says: “Weight gain can occur when you stop taking Mounjaro, so it’s necessary to continue eating healthily and regularly exercising to prevent this from happening.”
Morrisons Clinic says: “When you stop Wegovy, to maintain your weight your longer-term, you need to adopt lifestyle changes and regular exercise.”
Well Pharmacy adds: “Wegovy is a great tool to support weight management. But it is just that.
“A medical tool that should be used with an ongoing commitment to a healthier lifestyle.”
By Vanessa Chalmers, Assistant Head of Health
IF you’ve been using Mounjaro or Wegovy, you’ll likely be feeling ecstatic to finally see stubborn fat melt away.
But despite feeling the best you’ve felt in years, and the flow of compliments, you’re quietly battling profound fears about weight regain.
The ‘food noise’ can creep back in, and appetite is no longer suppressed by GLP-1, the hormone stimulated by GLP-1 medications.
“Many people return close to their original weight within two years,” registered nutritionist and author Alison Bladh (alisonbladh.com) tells Sun Health.
“When the drug is discontinued, the body’s natural hunger hormones may rebound, leading to a noticeable increase in appetite.”
Here’s how to prepare for the next step in your new life…
MINDSET
DIET AND NUTRITION
To read about each tip in more detail, read the full article here.
A MESSAGE drops in your inbox from an attractive stranger or even a celebrity, telling you that you’re beautiful and they want to chat.
You think it’s too good to be true, but their profile seems legit, and you speak on and off for weeks, sending selfies and voice notes. Sadly, it’s all a con to steal your money – but luckily, there’s a catfish vigilante who’s turning the tables and getting revenge – and she’s seen firsthand the terrifying schemes scammers use to groom victims.
Becky Holmes, 46, from Warwickshire, has found an unlikely knack for playing fraudsters at their own game, unravelling their dark web of deceit and protecting vulnerable victims.
She’s been chatted up by good-looking soldiers and other seemingly great catches – even A-list celebrities who all turned out to be con artists.
These fraudsters’ clever profiles are set up to deceive trusting people out of money – and Becky plays along to expose them, no matter who they are.
“Keanu Reeves” even warned Becky to be careful of people pretending to be him, and told her: “It warms my heart to see people love me for who I am and not only what I do”.
She comically responded with pictures of herself in a mine, saying she’s being held prisoner and forced to work, turning the tables and asking him for help.
Eventually, Becky said: “Forget it. You’re useless. I’ll ask Liam Neeson instead. He has a set of special skills.”
Meanwhile, when she informed “Mark Wahlberg” she was also talking to Reeves, he hilariously warned her to be careful because it could be a scam.
He then pretended to call the John Wick actor on Becky’s behalf, even sending a screenshot of a call to “Keanu”, warning her that whoever she was speaking to wasn’t the real actor.
He told her to “think wisely” and asked if Reeves has ever called her or sent a voice message to verify his identity.
The screenshots of these exchanges with “celebrity boyfriends” are posted online to the delight of social media users who love to follow along.
But there’s a dark side to the comedy – as many women fall for these accounts and end up sending hundreds or even thousands of pounds to supposed celebrities they believe need help or are in love with them.
Fraudsters are now using sinister tactics that are a lot more convincing than simply messaging women saying they’re an A-Lister now, too – like pretending to be a family member, or using textbook coercion and blackmail, including love bombing.
Becky warns the stereotype of romance fraud victims being “sad, lonely middle-aged women” is also untrue and extremely damaging – and no one is “too clever” to be caught out.
She posts her conversations with “celebrities” on her X (formerly Twitter) account to show how clever and convincing scammers can be and how easy it is to fall for it – no matter who you are.
This led to her writing a book, Keanu Reeves is Not in Love with You, the rights to which were optioned for a film.
She’s also been contacted by many victims, and has started working with the police to raise awareness of the tactics fraudsters use.
Speaking to The Sun, she explained how she’d started her X account during the Covid lockdown to keep in touch with friends and “not have to watch the news“.
Becky says: “I had a lot of messages straight away in my inbox from very similar-looking, handsome men, often in Army uniforms, and they were all declaring this interest in me immediately.
“If one had messaged me, I might have found it convincing if I were in a particular place in my life, and I would have responded genuinely initially, but it was clear by the sheer volume that something was wrong.”
Becky said lockdown in particular was a very profitable time for such scammers, because people were isolated and looking on social media for comfort.
She adds: “A lot of people say younger people are more savvy, but there’s a scam for everybody – no matter where you are in your life, there’s a way a fraudster can find you.
“Romance fraud is so effective because our human race is built on love and trust.
“We would have died out if we didn’t fall in love and we didn’t trust people.
“That’s two vulnerabilities that everyone on the planet has, so they’ve kind of got a head start on that.”
From speaking to victims, Becky said she recognised the same patterns as those in abusive relationships.
She tells The Sun: “Isolating you from friends and family, encouraging you to keep things secret, this is real gaslighting. It all comes down to coercive control.”
However, Becky said domestic abuse is treated “very seriously” while romance fraud is “fobbed off”.
She adds: “They’re crimes with strong similarities, but we view them very differently.”
When it comes to celebrity impersonators, Becky says we shouldn’t be so quick to judge those who are successfully targeted.
Her first was Matrix star Reeves – who, ironically, famously does not use any social media.
Becky said: “At the time, he was the most impersonated celebrity.
“Every time I got Keanu Reeves impersonators messaging me, I put a dash in a book, and I’m now on 150 accounts.
“That’s just the ones who reached out; there’s a load more following me.”
Becky said it seems to go in “cycles” with scammers looking to see who is popular or what that person’s interests are – for example, a friend of hers who is into classical music was contacted by someone impersonating a famous cellist.
And it’s not all about romance – it can often be experts in a field who people would be most likely to trust or aspire to be like.
She said there’s “an absolute tonne” of Elon Musk accounts and even people like money-saving guru Martin Lewis.
Becky says: “His image has been used in multiple financial scams – he’s someone people trust with money.
She went on to say it amazes her the number of people who pretend to be Prince William – she’s had countless messages from clones of the future king.
“The celebrity frauds are often much harder for people to understand,” Becky admits.
“They approach their victims in a different way.
“Their stories can be a lot more convoluted. It could be that they’re setting up a charity, or they use the idea of exclusive shows.
Becky said a lot of work is put into cloning different celebrity accounts, and scammers will brazenly warn victims to be on the lookout, telling them they are legit and others aren’t.
She says: “They’re in competition with each other after all.”
People who become victims being judged by others is only adding to the problem, Becky warns – pointing to Anne Deneuchatel, who was left homeless and broke after a year-long affair with an online swindler pretending to be Brad Pitt.
The fraudster sent her AI-generated images of the actor in hospital and told her he needed hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer treatment.
Becky says: “She wasn’t sent those pictures out of the blue, this person had been grooming her, and we don’t know the state she was in when she saw those.
Scammers have even sent her “selfies” taken from celebrities’ social media accounts and photoshopped images as “proof” they’re real.
“Elon Musk” even posed with Donald Trump while seemingly holding a photo of Becky.
Actor Gerard Butler apparently reached out, and Becky told him: “I’m so excited to be speaking to the ever so real Gerard Butler!”
He responded: “I’m so excited to be speaking to the most beautiful goddess of England.”
What is romance fraud?
Romance fraud usually involves fraudsters creating fake online personas to gain someone’s trust and affection through the guise of a romantic relationship, with the ultimate goal of exploiting them for financial gain.
Romance fraudsters use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit. They work hard to make sure that when they ask for money, and require urgency or secrecy from the victim, it doesn’t set off alarm bells.
How to protect yourself from romance fraud
Never send money: If you’re in a relationship with someone you’ve only met online, any requests for money should ring an alarm bell. However sad or urgent their story is, never send money (that includes vouchers, cryptocurrency or money for investments). Report anyone who asks for money to the dating service immediately.
Get to know the person, not the profile: Treat people as you would if meeting in person, by asking questions and taking your time. Check the person online using Google image search or TinEye to see if their profile pictures can be found elsewhere online. Be cautious about how much information you share, and keep your social media accounts private and secure.
Talk to friends and family: Sometimes a second opinion can really help if you are uncertain about something, such as being asked for money by someone you’re in an online relationship with. Be wary if you meet someone online who asks you not to tell anyone about them.
What to do if you have already been a victim of romance fraud
If you have made a payment: Inform your bank as soon as possible, they can help you prevent any further losses. Monitor your bank statements regularly for any unusual activity.
Identity theft: If you have shared personal or financial information, and suspect your identity may have been stolen, you can check your credit file quickly and easily online. You should do this every few months anyway, using a reputable service provider and follow up on any unexpected or suspicious results. You can also sign up for Cifas services which can help to protect you against fraud.
You could be targeted again: Fraudsters sometimes re-establish contact with previous victims claiming that they can help them recover lost money. Hang up on any callers that claim they can get your money back for you.
How to report romance fraud
If you think you have been a victim of romance fraud, remember that you are not to blame, do not feel ashamed or embarrassed – you are not alone, help is out there. Please report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via www.actionfraud.police.uk.
If you are in Scotland, please report to Police Scotland directly by calling 101.
“Oh Gerald, you smooth-tongued rascal you,” she responded.
Meanwhile, “Prince William” wanted to make sure Becky wasn’t catfishing HIM – and requested a selfie.
Liam Neeson slid into Becky’s DM’s asking how long she’s been a fan of his and then said: “On the advice of my attorney, I got this account for the sake of security and privacy. Please keep our conversations private and secured.”
“I’m still human beside you, looking so beautiful and calming,” he gushed, asking what she does for work.
I’ve come across some that are very cross when they’ve realised I’m playing. I’ve had threats from them. You get two reactions – furious and threatening or they go and move onto someone else.
Becky Holmes
Becky said she gets a thrill when she angers a scammer, calling it a “small victory” if they block her.
She says: “I’ve come across some who are very cross when they’ve realised I’m playing. I’ve had threats from them.
“You get two reactions – furious and threatening, or they go and move onto someone else.
“I’ve been blocked by a lot of them. Which I find satisfying, it’s a small victory”
Ironically, Becky also met her current partner while searching for troll accounts on Tinder, and they hit it off.
However, amid her research, she’s found there is a much darker side to such scam operations that many people in Britain don’t realise.
She said a lot of the scammers are operating in impoverished nations and use a strategy called “pig butchering“.
These vile scam factories use hundreds of trafficking victims to target victims online and face sick punishments if they fail to do so.
“It’s horrific – they liken it to fattening up a pig for slaughter,” Becky explained.
“The people who are doing the scamming have often been trafficked and are held against their will.
“In those cases, the people doing the fraud are actually victims themselves.”
Becky went on to say: “There have been terrible photos that have come out of these scam compounds, and if people don’t meet their targets, they’re beaten, executed, they’re held under armed guard.
“The world of fraudsters is becoming more sophisticated, and the fraudsters are finding more ways to make vulnerable people part of the chain.”
Ruth Grover, founder of ScamHaters United, started her Facebook page in 2010 after she was targeted by fraudsters when she changed her Facebook status to widowed.
The page currently has 82,000 members, and Ruth has helped thousands of victims and their families, but she warned she is only seeing more and more scams.
One of the people she is helping is the family of a 91-year-old man who believed he was speaking to a 30-year-old woman.
So far, the man has given £100,000 to the scammer under the premise that she has invested it and he will get back £800,000.
Ruth said: “He thinks this is marvellous, so he’s trying to get loans and things like that to send her some more money to invest.”
Those aged 90 to 99 lose the most money at £19,852 per victim, according to data from City of London Police.
But the most reports concern 50-59 year-olds, and nearly half of all romance fraud victims are women.
Ruth said she helps victims of all ages. From 15-year-old boys who have been targeted through Snapchat, to 80-year-old women who have sent indecent images to a scammer they met through online scrabble.
Scammers are increasingly reaching younger audiences through TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, where they have adopted a “spray and pray” approach, sending out messages to hundreds of accounts.
Victims can get in touch with Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or this website for help.
Becky’s second book, The Future of Fraud, is out next year.
THE quarter-finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix are here – and Ronnie O’Sullivan is still well in the hunt!
The Rocket dumped Jak Jones out of the tournament with a 5-2 victory in the last-16 – and he returns this afternoon to face Gary Wilson.
O’Sullivan is the firm favourite now, as former champion Kyren Wilson was dumped out by a shocking whitewash against Shaun Murphy.
Our first semi-final has been confirmed with Welsh duo Mark Williams and Daniel Wells going head-to-head tomorrow.
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ITS biggest claims to fame are that it was the setting of a hit TV show, and that it’s home to Europe’s biggest trading estate.
But fed-up residents say this Berkshire town – just a stone’s throw away from the royal castle of Windsor – is plagued by crime and drug abuse, with locals fearful to ever head into the high street after dark.
“This place is run by drug dealers,” lamented Francis Jupiter, 24, one local in Slough, who is moving away in December.
“I want to get out as quickly as I can. There’s a real general sense of neglect. Nobody seems to care at all.”
The setting of comedy classic The Office, Slough has long faced an uphill battle when it comes to its reputation, having been named the ugliest town in the entire country last year by The Telegraph.
Long before this, in 1937, the celebrated poet Sir John Betjeman immortalised the town with a poem whose first lines read: “Come friendly bombs, and fall on Slough / It isn’t fit for humans now…”
But photos from decades past nonetheless show a town that was thriving, bustling with shoppers and boasting the likes of M&S and Debenhams.
It could not be more different from how things are today.
Looming over the high street, the massive Queensmere shopping centre greets the street with boarded-up windows and metal shutters.
It opened decades ago – an optimistic extension to a bustling, thriving town that now lies almost empty.
“Primark is STILL open,” says a poster on the doors, while inside, an outdated guide to all the shops that were once here reads like the names of the fallen on a war memorial.
In just a decade, the number of vacant units in the town centre has more than doubled, from 9 per cent in in 2013 up to 20 per cent in 2024, according to data from consultancy JDM Retail.
Where there are shops, many of these are discount stores, gambling shops, and vape sellers.
Life expectancy in the town is 10 years lower than what it is in the surrounding boroughs, a reflection partially of its proximity to the more upmarket towns of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Pushing a pram down the high street, couple James and Sophie, both 27, stand out as some of the few young people about that day.
They’re visiting from nearby Maidenhead – but they weren’t visiting Slough out of choice, as they had to come here to register their newborn.
“We never come here if we can help it. Usually if we want to shop we’ll go to Reading or Maidenhead, not here” said James.
It’s also the first time they’d visited the town in years – and the decline was noticeable.
He added: “The last time we came here was 15 years ago. It’s really disappointing to see what happened to the town.
“We’re just here to register our baby, have a Subway, then go and never come back.”
For those who live in the town though, leaving is not an option.
“Crime’s gone through the roof in the last 15 years,” said Stephen Brown, 63, who has lived in Slough all his life.
Stephen worked as a heating ventilation installer, before a car crash a decade ago left him forced to use a mobility scooter to get around.
They were having sex with a prostitute outside my gate, in broad daylight…it was really bad
Stephen Brown
“There’s prostitution, there’s drugs, and girls won’t ever come into the centre.
“All you smell is weed, stinking out the whole place. In my lifetime, this is the lowest it’s ever been.”
Stephen lives just a short walk away from the high street, where an alleyway provided his only route to the shops.
But he wasn’t the only one making use of it.
“People had used it as a toilet, used it to do drugs,” Stephen said.
“I wasn’t able to take my dog along there because there were needles all over the ground. The worst thing was when they had a mattress down there, and they were having sex with a prostitute outside my gate, in broad daylight. It was really bad.
“They’ve put gates there now, so it’s a lot better but they still congregate – the problem’s moved, but it’s still in Slough.
“It’s why no girls, nor me, come out after dark in Slough because you will get harassed. It’s terrible.”
Not far from the alley, a superstore car park has become a haunt for those suffering from drug addiction, with dealers keeping them hooked on their supply.
Stephen has himself become a victim of thugs that haunt this part of town.
“I was just popping to get some milk on my mobility scooter, and there were four lads on the corner,” he said.
“They pushed me off, and gave me a few kicks on the ground while laughing and joking around. One of them even went on my scooter and rode it up and down the street.”
Slough has gone right downhill. They’ve put no money into it
Noel Dowling
Unable to get back on, Stephen was stuck on the ground, leaving the gang free to rob him of his phone, wallet and bag – all of which he had been keeping in his basket on the front.
“I never bring any money out with me now. And this has happened not once, but nearly four times,” he added.
“That was the worst occasion, because they really gave me a kicking. But I’ve been spat on and everything.”
Stephen has long been aware of the problems in the town, even telling how the daughter of a friend, who he declined to name, had been abused in a grooming gang.
“It’s awful what’s happened here,” Stephen said, adding that the girl is still psychologically traumatised from what happened.
And he is far from the only one to express fears about crime.
When we asked Roy, 72, what he thought of the town, he gestured to the run-down high street with a laugh.
“Take a look – it’s dirty,” he said.
“Then you’ve got the drugs. You can always see it going on around the town – you see the runners doing their bit.”
I wouldn’t even dare to come here in the evening after 7pm
Natalia
As he spoke, the smell of cannabis wafted by, while groups of men lurched from one end of the high street to the other.
Roy added: “In the daytime, you see so many men just wandering around. Why aren’t they working? They can’t all be on nights.”
Others took little persuasion to open up about their despair over the town’s decline.
“Slough has gone right downhill. They’ve put no money into it,” said Noel Dowling, 69, a retiree who used to work on the railways.
“The problem is, there’s nothing to do.”
It was a view echoed by Natalia, 49, who immigrated to the town two decades ago.
“These days all you can see is all the shops and businesses closing. It’s like a ghost town now,” she said.
“Crime is really bad too. It’s quite scary at night. I wouldn’t even dare to come here in the evening after 7pm.”
In other corners of town, the work of arsonists was clearly visible, with buildings still covered in soot from the flames.
Even the town’s modern bus station, an architectural marvel of curving metal, was torched back in 2022 – but wrangling over insurance payouts have meant it’s still not back in operation.
Instead, it now stands fenced-off with holes in the structure still not patched up.
Just off the high street, arsonists had also set fire to a car in the entrance of a block of flats only a few days ago.
I think the main problem with Slough at the moment is the broken-down high street…but I’m optimistic
Mayor of Slough, Siobhan Dauti
But 33-year-old Ricky Sadhu, who was on a waking watch outside, remained optimistic.
“I can’t deny there are teething problems – problems with homelessness and things like that are quite big,” he said.
“But it’s a good area. And there’s a lot of potential.”
With fast and frequent trains into London, developers have been eyeing up Slough as a potential goldmine.
Hundreds of new flats have been built in recent years, while derelict chasms of rough ground in the town centre are fenced off with boards advertising the swanky properties that will soon be built there.
Nearby the train station, the former Horlicks factory, formerly one of the town’s major employers, is now home to thousands of new flats.
Whether the new residents choose to spend their money in the town remains to be seen, however.
“There used to be a time, when I was a kid, when people would come in from Staines and Uxbridge to do their shopping here. You could spend all day in the town,” said Siobhan Dauti, Slough’s mayor.
“We’ve got easy connections to Heathrow, and to central London. But do they bring anyone here?”
Slough born and bred, she, like other locals, didn’t shy away from admitting that the town had problems.
But she was hopeful for the future. As it stands, there are plans to demolish the old shopping centre and replace it with thousands of homes and new businesses.
The infrastructure problems, that’s not down to the people – that’s down to the council, and the government
Tanwar
“There are a lot of the usual problems that you’ll find in any other area – the drugs, the homelessness – but that happens everywhere,” she added.
“I think the main problem with Slough at the moment is the broken down high street – but that’s undergoing rejuvenation. I’m optimistic.”
Asim Gul, 26, was also positive. Though he’d seen homelessness, he was proud to be part of a community that helped each other out.
“I’ve seen it,” he said. “But it’s everywhere – and local trusts help them out with food, with renting, and with dealing with the council.”
Customer sales executive Tanwar, 52, was also clear about how he felt about the town he’d been born in.
“I love Slough,” he said.
“The infrastructure problems, that’s not down to the people – that’s down to the council, and the Government.
“The high street is crap, yeah – but that’s down to a lack of investment.”
What the council had invested in, however, had ended up costing everyone.
In 2021, it was declared effectively bankrupt after betting £96million on commercial property investments around the country before the pandemic.
Saddled with debt to the tune of £760million, an independent review assessed that the then Labour-run council had presided over “several years of mismanagement.”
Elsewhere, Dylan Lucas, 24, was in Slough for his first day working for an estate agency.
“Windsor is a lot better,” he said, adding that for young people in particular there just wasn’t a lot to do.
“It’s a a bit dangerous round here at night too.”
Jason Rodger, 36, who is unemployed, echoed these thoughts.
“There’s some very unusual characters about. Windsor’s completely different – it’s maybe only three or so miles away, but the difference is stark.
“I like Slough – you get the mixture of different cultures, and different people,” he added. “But everything’s gone to pot here. And I don’t know why.”
A MAN has been charged after two people were injured with a weapon near a college in a racist attack.
Police raced to the scene after receiving reports of an armed man near a college in Yorkshire on Thursday.
West Yorkshire Police said they received reports from 9.21am on Thursday of a man armed with what appeared to be a knife on Great Horton Road near Bradford College.
Two members of the public were injured and taken to hospital for treatment for non-life threatening injuries while a small gardening tool was seized by officers at the scene, the force added.
They arrested the man after he was detained by college security staff.
David Noutch, of no fixed address, has been charged with a racially aggravated offence under the Public Order Act, racially aggravated assault, threatening with a bladed article in a public place and assault by beating.
He was also charged with two counts of assaulting a police constable and causing criminal damage.
The 31-year-old, who defines himself as white British, is in custody and is due to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court on Saturday.
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