CHANGE Gym Shuts Abruptly Amid Extortion Case, Police Investigate 'Debt Collectors'
Milky Lane co-founder Pete Haselhurst's gym closed without notice, leaving members locked out as police pursue alleged collectors.
The CHANGE gym on Queensland's Gold Coast has been abruptly shut down, with members finding locked doors and receiving no communication. The closure coincides with an escalating extortion case involving the gym's co-founder, Pete Haselhurst, who is currently on bail for multiple charges.
Haselhurst, also known as a co-founder of the Milky Lane restaurant chain, faces eight charges, including three counts of extortion, three counts of unlawful stalking, and one count of possessing dangerous drugs. His wife and business partner, Emma Jean Pearson, is not implicated in the charges.
Staff reportedly arrived last Thursday to find themselves locked out and classes cancelled. Rumors circulated that the landlord had closed the facility due to unpaid rent. However, Haselhurst and Pearson stated the closure was an "eleventh hour" decision, attributing it to "an unexpected opportunity we felt we could not pass up."
Haselhurst spent six weeks in custody before being released on bail. A court previously heard video evidence of individuals described as 'debt collectors' allegedly berating business associates of the CHANGE founder for money. Police are reportedly tracking down these alleged 'debt collectors,' with further arrests anticipated.
