Fitness guru claims arrest over attempted murder by chocolate
Jody Bunting’s colleague had allergic reaction and star says his fruit and nut Dairy Milk bar was blamed
A FORMER Channel 4 fitness star has been arrested on suspicion of an attempted murder involving a fruit and nut Dairy Milk bar.
Jody Bunting, who regularly appeared on the broadcaster’s morning show The Big Breakfast between 2001 and 2002, denies the accusation and described his arrest as “crazy”.
Mr Bunting claims he was accused of attempting to kill a colleague who had such a severe allergy to cocoa she cannot even be in the same room as it.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the 45-year-old said he brought a fruit and nut chocolate bar into his workplace, the Mickleover Court hotel leisure club, on Oct 21.
He said: “It is crazy. It started after I took some chocolate to work and left them in the reception and there is CCTV of me doing that.
“[The alleged victim] wasn’t at work that day. Five days later, she came back into work while I was on holiday in Morocco.
“It was then that she had a reaction. She’s really allergic to cocoa, she only has to be in the same room as it. She doesn’t have to touch it or eat it.” Mr Bunting claimed he had only brought the chocolate into the health club that day as he knew that the alleged victim would not be in.
The woman was taken to the intensive care unit of the Royal Derby Hospital following the incident.
He continued: “While I was away on holiday, I had a call from a few of the members of the health club, and they said that the police were there investigating where the chocolate had come from and everybody was pointing the finger at me. It was just a fruit and nut Dairy Milk.”
Mr Bunting said that police were waiting for him at Luton Airport when he returned from his holiday.
When asked if he would have any reason to harm the woman, he replied: “We are friends. It’s not as if I had something against her.”
Since the police began their investigation, Mr Bunting claimed he has had to stop working at the health club and has stopped other fitness classes he ran. He said: “You know, you can’t just casually tell somebody, ‘I’ve been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder’.”
He was bailed following his arrest, with conditions including not contacting specific staff members at Mickleover Court, as well as a condition prohibiting him from visiting the club.
Mr Bunting hosted the “Lose it with Jody” segment of The Big Breakfast and is best known for his dramatic transformation after shedding a large amount of weight when he hit 31 stone.
He later became a full-time fitness instructor who has continued to dabble in TV over the years.
Mr Bunting says he has not heard from Derbyshire Constabulary about key developments since his arrest on Nov 2 2023. A spokesman for the force said: “A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and wounding with intent on Nov 2.
“He has been bailed as investigations continue. The arrest relates to an incident at the Mickleover Court Hotel in Derby between 22 and 29 Oct 2023.”
The woman Mr Bunting is alleged to have attacked has been contacted for comment.