Gym owner sees ‘flimsy’ case against him for keeping his gym open during second lockdown dropped

Mr Lowndes’ gym was subsequently raided by police and he was charged with a breach of lockdown regulations, which he denied.

Mr Lowndes failed to pay the fixed penalty notice and was due to stand trial last March, however the case collapsed because the authority failed to gather enough evidence.

Bedford Borough Council said the case was in the ‘public interest’, they enforced the rules at the time and that there was ‘ample evidence for a successful prosecution’

Mr Lowndes told the BBC: ‘They [the council] should have looked at it even six months in and gone ‘this is a waste of time’.

‘But they kept going and they kept going, they brought in an external barrister, they kept spending money, and it just got out of control.’

Businesses need to push back against these unnecessary draconian measures!’

Gyms were ordered to shut their doors under lockdown rules in 2020 but the government confirmed they would lift the ban from December 2 under a tier system.

Many gyms up and down the country refused to shut their doors during restrictions, claiming they provide a vital service that improves both physical and mental health.

Criminal defence lawyer Lucinda Nicholls, of Nicholls & Nicholls, told the BBC that she has successfully defended 23 similar cases.

‘The biggest issue is enforcement of the legislation – the law hasn’t been followed, but councils and prosecutors doggedly insist on proceeding, it makes no sense,’ she said.