Avid gym enthusiasts, who paid their pensioner neighbour £53,000 to construct a luxury workout room at their £560,000 home in Pinner, Middlesex during the lockdown in 2020, have taken legal action against him, alleging that they were forced to demolish the structure due to its substandard quality.
Paras Dodhia, an accountant, and his wife Devina filed a lawsuit against Tommy Joyce, 66, claiming that the building was "shoddy" and lacked proper workmanship.
They are now seeking £215,000 in damages, including £160,000 for legal fees.
The dispute centers around the alleged poor construction of the gym, which the Dodhias believed would be their ideal fitness space.
According to Dodhia, the gym room had to be completely gutted due to its atrocious workmanship, and he criticised Joyce for hiring workers with questionable skills.
Their barrister argued that Joyce had represented himself as experienced and capable of building the gym.
The Dodhias want him to be held accountable for his alleged gross negligence.
The dispute arose after the Dodhias received a handwritten quote from Joyce in September 2020, but by February 2021, they complained that the works were far from complete and that the costs exceeded the original estimate.
Two builders hired by Dodhia assessed the project and quoted around £20,000 to rectify the defects and poor workmanship.
An independent surveyor confirmed the poor quality of the construction and recommended gutting the entire building, except for the block work walls, slab floor, and roof.
The estimated cost of remedial works was £55,858. The gym has since been rebuilt after being demolished.
Joyce's defense argued that he should not be held responsible for work carried out by others, as he presented himself as a retired groundworks foreman and machine driver.
He claimed that he was assisting Dodhia in realising his vision of constructing a home gym during the lockdown, and denied offering to design and construct the outbuilding.
The judge reserved judgment in the case after two days of court proceedings.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)