Jody Bunting, who rose to fame as a TV fitness instructor who went from 31 stone to 13 stone, says he was “paraded” around Luton Airport in handcuffs after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The Big Breakfast star says he was arrested concerning an incident at the Mickleover Court Hotel Leisure Club on October 29, 2023. Mr Bunting had worked as a group exercise instructor at the leisure club for six years.
The 45-year-old, from Hatton, Derbyshire, said a member of staff was taken to the intensive care unit at the Royal Derby Hospital after an allergic reaction to chocolate.
Mr Bunting claims he is being accused of intentionally planting the chocolate – which he strongly denies and says he was in Morocco on holiday the day the incident happened.
The fitness guru, who has also appeared on This Morning and The One Show, said he was “in shock” at “being arrested in front of a friend and then being paraded around Luton Airport in cuffs”.
He told DerbyshireLive: “I was shocked my local South Derbyshire police officers had come all the way down to London for this issue. The custody sergeant did ask if I could still do my high kicks as he’d Googled me and realised who I was.”
Mr Bunting says he was bailed following his arrest with conditions including not contacting specific staff members and prohibiting him from visiting the club.
Sharing an update on how he is now, he said: “I am doing OK. I am working a lot less now as Mickleover Court was my main job, so I’m just focusing on the fitness classes I still have and the online weight loss coaching I do.
“It’s motivated me not to work for anyone else again, to focus on my own business. I am just focusing on the future and hoping I get the ‘no further action’ letter from the police any day now.
“The hardest thing is what to tell the members who have contacted me. It’s hard to just say ‘I got arrested for attempted murder’ and not explain the whys. When I tell people it’s over a piece of chocolate, they actually laugh out loud, which is even more amusing because of my slimming work and past.”
Express.co.uk has contacted Derbyshire Police for comment.
