Gym boss who ‘said a woman should be raped for failing to turn up to class’ is investigated by Edinburgh University
- Senior instructor Ross Brain accused of sending the offensive ‘rape’ messages
- Sent in a work WhatsApp group at Edinburgh University’s Sport & Exercise club
- Discussing possible forfeits for a woman who turned up late to a class including choice between ‘600 burpees or rape’
A gym boss at the University of Edinburgh is being investigated after being accused of sending a message suggesting a woman should be ‘raped’ for not showing up to class.
Senior instructor Ross Brain was accused of sending the offensive messages on a work WhatsApp group at the university’s Sport & Exercise club.
A message that appears to have been sent by Mr Brain stated: ‘Let’s rape her… or give her the choice of 600 burpees or rape.’
When junior staff in the group, mostly female, ignored the rape jibe, a further message, purportedly send from Mr Brain’s account, said: ‘No-one up for this then?’
Senior instructor Ross Brain was accused of sending the offensive messages to a Whatsapp work group chat at Edinburgh University’s Sport & Exercise club
An investigation was launched but colleagues at the Pleasance centre are understood to feel let down at a perceived lack of action three months on.
One source said the remarks did not sit well with the university’s ‘zero tolerance’ campaign.
Mr Brain has been accused of sending the message shortly before Christmas to the staff chat to arrange logistics.
The group is understood to have been discussing possible forfeits to be imposed on a woman who signed up to a six week exercise course but failed to show that morning.
Believed to have been discussing potential forfeits for a woman who hadn’t showed up for an exercise class, a message that appeared to have been sent by Mra Brain read: ‘Lets rape her… or give her the choice of 600 burpees or rape.’
Concerned staff reported the messages to the university’s HR department in January but were left unaware of any action being taken.
A source at the gym said: ‘It’s like they’re trying to brush it under the rug. People are feeling let down.
‘The university is loud and proud about its zero tolerance policies but a lot of people want action on this – they feel abandoned.’
Concerned staff who were on the group chat reported the messages to the university’s HR department in January but were left unaware of any action being taken
Staff have now been left struggling on in a ‘toxic’ environment with no faith in protocols if they report misogynistic or inappropriate behaviour, the Edinburgh Evening News reported.
The gym source added: ‘Staff were told there’d be an investigation in January and have heard no more.
‘There are off-hand sexist remarks particularly working in the fitness industry that are leftover attitudes that haven’t made their way out yet.
‘One senior manager apparently told female members of staff they must wear tight leggings because ‘it looks more professional’.
A spokesman for the University of Edinburgh said: ‘We take incidents such as this very seriously – the use of such language is abhorrent and has no place in this University’
A spokesman for the University of Edinburgh said: ‘We take incidents such as this very seriously – the use of such language is abhorrent and has no place in this University.
‘We have a zero-tolerance stance towards sexual harassment of any kind and are absolutely committed to providing an environment in which all members of the University community treat others with dignity and respect.
‘We put significant effort into reinforcing our zero tolerance culture including through campaigns such as “Don’t Cross the Line”.
‘While we do not comment on the detail or outcome of individual cases, we can confirm that a full disciplinary investigation has taken place in this instance.’
Mr Brain could not be approached for comment at this time.