Coronavirus: Gym owner who clashed with 30 police and amassed £77,000 in fines hit with court order to close

Haringey Council leader says enforcement always ‘last resort’

Andreas Michli had defied lockdown rules by keeping his gym open (Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire)

A gym owner who faced down more than 30 police officers and amassed £77,000 in fines while refusing to close his business despite coronavirus lockdown rules has been issued with a court order to shut down.

Haringey Council obtained a closure order at a hearing at Highbury Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Andreas Michli had bowed to law enforcement pressure to close his Zone Gym in north London last Wednesday, but authorities sought the court order to ensure the premises would remain closed until 2 December, when England’s lockdown is due to end.

The 34-year-old said he had resisted closing his Zone Gym in north London because it “felt like the right thing to do socially, morally and scientifically”.

“There were a lot of reasons why I didn't close,” he said on Saturday. “I couldn't actually find a reason why to not keep it open, other than there was legislation in place.”

But last Tuesday evening, some 30 Metropolitan Police officers swooped on the Wood Green establishment, reportedly followed by another two van loads of PCs the following morning.

Mr Michli claimed that while police manned the gates outside the gym, customers had “managed to climb over walls and shift through little gaps to get in”.

But some would-be exercisers were turned away, with one person shouting at police that they were behaving “like Nazis”.

Mr Michli, who has owned his gym for five years, previously said he was delaying his decision on when to reopen the premises pending the outcome of the court hearing.

The £77,000 of fixed penalty notices issued to him are believed to still be outstanding, and he also now owes £9,000 for court costs.

Haringey Council leader Joseph Ejiofor welcomed the court's decision.

“I understand why the owner felt passionately about staying open, but the law is the law and it applies to everyone,” he said.

“It is not right for every other non-essential business, having had to close its doors and make a huge sacrifice, to then see another business remain open.

“Our enforcement officers did everything in their power from the very start to communicate with the owner of Zone Gym. That included engaging, explaining and encouraging regarding the legislation that has been put in place.

“Enforcement is always our last resort but despite numerous visits to the premises, the owner refused to work with us, and we were forced to issue £77,000 of fixed penalty notices for breaches of the rules.

“Taking this matter to the courts showed that we were not prepared to risk the health of people across Haringey.”

Mr Ejiofor added: “I am pleased that the owner is now doing the right thing and has closed the gym.

“Staying as active as you can to look after your health and wellbeing is really important during this time, but it has to be done in the right way.

“I would be willing to discuss this with him in the future when all legal matters are concluded.

“Let me make this clear. The safety of our residents in Haringey will always remain our number one priority and if anyone refuses to abide by the law, we will be left with no choice but to take strong action.”

Additional reporting by PA