'Gym rage' man out of contract

An IT worker has been released from his contract with a Shropshire fitness centre after getting caught up in the county's first known case of "gym rage".

James Barret, 28, claims he was intimidated at Fitness First at Stafford Park, Telford - leaving him too scared to return.

Mr Barret, from Donnington, said his problems started with a group who insisted on shouting and throwing equipment.

He complained about their behaviour to staff, and says the group of "bigger lads" found out he had reported them.

One then approached him and "threatened to wrap a dumb-bell around my head".

Mr Barret - frightened to go back but tied to a year-long contract - faced paying hundreds of pounds to cancel it.

But Fitness First has taken the unusual step of allowing him out of the deal. The friction reflects a trend of tension in gyms around the world that has been dubbed "gym rage".

One survey commissioned by FHM Bionic magazine found 22 per cent of men questioned thought they had been victims of intimidation in the gym.

Mr Barret said his experience was a "nightmare" and left him too shaken to return. "There were a couple of bigger lads throwing their weight around, but they were friends with a lot of the others.

"It went on for quite a few weeks. They were making a lot of noise - you could hear them even from a different room with headphones on.

"They would throw dumb-bells and things around when using them.

"Then when they found out I had complained one of them told me he would take me outside and wrap a dumb-bell around my head."

Bree Sims, spokeswoman for Fitness First, said the company was committed to making sure its gyms were safe and stress free. She said managers attempted to discuss the problem with Mr Barret at an earlier stage.

"However, as a gesture of goodwill, Fitness First will waiver Mr Barret's outstanding account with immediate effect."

By Dave West