A North East gym owner is facing a massive legal bill after being found guilty of four charges around breaching Covid rules.
District Judge Marie Mallon said there was an 'abundance' of evidence that Eddy Ellwood's gym premises in Hartlepool were being used as a gym and that it was a 'preposterous' submission that it was being used for holding a peaceful protest, TeesideLive reported. Ellwood, who also owns a gym in Horden in County Durham, was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs amounting to £25,507, as well as a victim surcharge of £181.
The 58-year-old, who after the case said he intends to appeal, was given 12 months to pay the money. There were jeers from the public gallery from Ellwood's supporters, who have accompanied him throughout the trial.
Read more: Fire crews tackle flames as blaze tears through former Stereo bar building near Newcastle Quayside
Ellwood had denied breaching Covid 19 legislation on February 2 and February 7 last year at his Extreme Fitness gym. He also denied breaching a prohibition notice issued by Hartlepool Council on each of the two days.
During the hearing he said the premises were open so that people could make a peaceful protest against the Covid restrictions. He said it was also there to help people who were suffering from mental health problems.
Judge Mallon said: "There is ample evidence of people using the gym equipment, wearing gym clothes and carrying gym kit. An abundance of evidence in this case the premises were being used as a gym business."
"It was preposterous submission that the purpose of attending was to protest. No-one but the people there would know about it."
She said Ellwood was not a credible witness and he made a deliberate choice to break the law. Dr John Smith, defending, said Ellwood's business has not fully recovered for the Covid pandemic.
He said: "He was struggling to cover the fees of me coming back today, so he does have financial issues. I do accept there was an element of him wanting his day in court. He really feels that what he was doing was assisting people and he was doing what was necessary."
Dr Smith said the matters were all relating to a few days, he said: "It was not a long period of disobedience of the council." However, Judge Mallon said this was "a flagrant and deliberate disregard of the law".
