London gym owner is fined £67,000 and could be jailed for refusing to shut during lockdown after two-day stand-off when council officials issue him with closure order
A gym owner has been fined £67,000 for breaking coronavirus rules - and could be charged with a criminal offence and even jailed if he carries on opening his business during lockdown.
Andreas Michli refused to close his gym in Wood Green, north London, and was shut down by more than 30 police officers.
The 34-year-old had vowed on social media to flout the Government's coronavirus lockdown rules announced by the prime minister two weeks ago and remained open despite the risk of arrest and a massive fine.
As a result the huge group of officers were deployed to close the work-out facilities at the Zone Gym and stop customers from exercising during two raids - one on Tuesday evening and another yesterday morning.
He has now been fined £67,000 by the local council and ordered by magistrates to keep the gym closed until next Tuesday when he will contest the full closure of the premises in court.
The London Borough of Haringey today (applied in court for a civil order to not only close the business, but keep the building shut so not even Mr Michli could go inside.
Police were locked in a tense stand-off with protesters today at a gym which has remained opened in defiance of the government's lockdown
Enforcement officers from Haringey Council swooped on the Zone Gym in Wood Green, North London at 10am with a 48-hour 'closure notice' citing Anti-Social Behaviour laws — while officers stood guard at the car park gates blocking people from entering
But a loophole in the wording of the order meant gym boss Andreas Machli, 34, was allowed to enter in his car moments later
After talks ended he pulled open his shutters leading to dozens of gym members clambering over an eight-foot high wall to get in
But Highbury Corner Magistrates Court this afternoon only ordered the company cease trading for five days until a second hearing will decide the fate of the gym next week.
If Mr Michli breaches this temporary order he could be charged with a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of three months in prison and a further fine.
He also faces paying a further £7,300 in court costs, requested by Haringey Council to cover legal fees, including more than £3,000 to pay for the 30 PCs to raid the building.
Mr Michli appeared in court today wearing a dark gilet, a black t-shirt and long black shorts.
He was joined by an entourage of around 10 gym workers and customers who gathered outside the court to show their support.
Only three were allowed to attend the hearing due to strict social distancing rules.
Enforcement officers from Haringey Council had swooped on the Zone Gym in Wood Green, North London at 10am with a 48-hour 'closure notice' citing Anti-Social Behaviour laws — while officers stood guard at the car park gates blocking people from entering.
But a loophole in the wording of the order meant gym boss Mr Machli, 34, was allowed to enter in his car moments later.
Photos show the muscleman locked in heated conversations with police and council officials while 50 gym members barricaded outside roared their support.
After talks ended he pulled open his shutters leading to dozens of gym members clambering over an eight-foot high wall to get in.
Officers appeared to stand-by powerless as lycra clad protesters flooded past them.
Moments later Mr Machli marched to the car park gates telling cheering supporters outside: 'I am inviting you in!'
To raucous cheers, he pulled open the gates while police again stood by unwilling to make arrests.
Within seconds, dozens more were streaming into the gym car park where a nervous stand-off with police was still ongoing at lunch.
Mr Machli said: 'I am going to court to stay open.
'It's ridiculous, but this is what it has come to.
'How can they use anti-social behaviour laws to close us? It's daft.'
Officers appeared to stand-by powerless as lycra clad protesters flooded past them today
Moments later Mr Machli marched to the car park gates telling cheering supporters outside: 'I am inviting you in!'
The matter is now headed to the courts with a hearing scheduled to take place before Highbury Corner Magistrates later this afternoon
The siege began on Tuesday when Mr Machli sent out a rallying call on social media urging members to return to the treadmill
The siege began on Tuesday when Mr Machli sent out a rallying call on social media urging members to return to the treadmill.
One member said yesterday: 'There are other gyms open locally but they are keeping it more low key.
'Andreas has the strength of his convictions to go public because he knows he's doing the right thing.
'Some people here today aren't even members of the gym.
'They just felt the need to come out and support him.'
It comes after footage emerged of the moment a group of people working out in a makeshift gym on an industrial site are broken up by police.
At least seven masked officers can be seen infiltrating the group exercise session which took place outside a gym in Wych Elm, Harlow, Essex, on Sunday.
Earlier this month Ripped Gym was shutdown by 15 police officers after posts on its social media page appeared to show the venue was open on November 5 in the face of new lockdown laws.
In the clip, taken by a witness at the scene and posted to social media yesterday, loud music can be heard blaring from a parked car while members of the group lift weights and stay socially distanced.
Some people were also seen wearing T-shirts labelled 'Ripped Gym'.
Despite the officers' presence several members of the group continued their exercise routine, with a child seen in the background lifting a bar.
Essex Police said in a statement: 'We attended an unauthorised event in Wych Elm, Harlow on Sunday 8 November.
'Our officers engaged with those in attendance and explained the new regulations and they left peacefully.'
No arrests were made.
Gym goers were stopped from an outdoor exercise session by a group of five police officers, at premises in Harlow, Essex, despite there being a national lockdown
Loud music can be heard blaring from a parked car while members of the group lift weights and stay socially distanced
One man then approached the officers and whipped out his phone to film them as they stood near the gym-goers.
The man engaged in a heated argument with the officers saying 'fine the organiser' over and over, and one woman was heard repeatedly asking: 'What's the problem?'
Meanwhile a man says that this is his private property and challenges the officers.
Exercise equipment including weights and yoga mats can be seen scattered across the floor nearby.
Exercise is encouraged under the covid-19 lockdown regulations however rules clearly state this kind of gathering is banned
Some gym goers continued to lift weights even after police turned up to shut down the gathering
Britain is currently in a second national lockdown meaning people should stay at home where at all possible.
Exercise is encouraged however rules clearly state this kind of gathering is banned.
Information on the government website clearly states: 'In general, you must not meet with another person socially or undertake any activities with another person.
'However, you can exercise or meet in a public, outdoors space with people you live with, your support bubble (or as part of a childcare bubble), or with one other person.'
Some criticised the police - especially after Extinction Rebellion protestors were yesterday allowed to erect a banner at London's Cenotaph without being challenged.
Social media users took to Twitter to criticise the actions of police in the video
Andres said: 'But police can't be arsed stopping XR nutters vandalising the Cenotaph.'
One said: 'They're outside in groups of their households I imagine and doing some exercise. What rules are they breaking?'
MrY_Hackney said: 'The police are more close together than the people working out.'
Notorious Celt said: 'Getting beyond a f****** joke this.'
Know Eye Deer added: 'Slow crime day? This is nonsensical.'
Another said: 'Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.'
But one watcher said: 'Good. Stick to the rules.'