A TV fitness guru has been held on suspicion of attempted murder, after a colleague had an allergic reaction to food he brought into work.
Jody Bunting, 45, who appeared on Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast, took a bar of his “favourite” chocolate to the Derby Court Mickleover Hotel, where he has worked in the health club since 2001, last October.
A co-worker with a severe nut allergy was off sick at the time.
Having not finished it, he told other co-workers he had left it in the back room for those on the late shift and went on holiday the next day.
Bunting said his colleague suffered an anaphylactic shock when she returned five days later and was in an intensive care unit in hospital for five days.
When Mr Bunting returned from his holiday Derbyshire Police were waiting for him at Luton Airport and he was arrested as he got off the plane.
He said: “They have CCTV of me taking the chocolate into the club and they are saying because I knew she was allergic to it I tried to kill her.”
Calling the experience “surreal”, he added: “I kind of knew they were there for me. When I was on holiday the health club members warned me the police were investigating in the club and my name was being bandied around – I brought the chocolate in.”
The fitness guru says the health club sells chocolate protein bars and claimed there have been previous incidents where his colleague has suffered an allergic reaction, including a coffee morning for the Macmillan cancer charity when two members brought chocolate cakes.
But he is now “so scared” of what could happen if police proceed with charges. “If I did get convicted it would be life,” he said.
Derbyshire Police said in a statement: “A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and wounding with intent.”
His bail conditions prevent him from contacting his colleague or going into work.
Jody Bunting, 45, who appeared on Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast, took a bar of his “favourite” chocolate to the Derby Court Mickleover Hotel, where he has worked in the health club since 2001, last October
