Gymgoer who trained with footy player turned bodybuilder Callum Hay reveals the worrying signs about his behaviour before he was convicted of rape
By JAMES COONEY
Published: | Updated:
A member of former Port Adelaide player Callum Hay's gym has revealed he was 'very charming' but had a 'hidden motive' after he was found guilty of two counts of rape.
Hay was taken into custody last week after being found guilty of raping a woman at a gym he owned.
A District Court jury found the 33-year-old Adelaide Hills gym owner guilty of two counts of rape, but acquitted him of a third count last week.
The court heard Hay carried out a series of attacks on a woman inside and just outside the premises in Mount Barker.
Now a client of Hay's BFT gym, which opened in 2022, has reflected on what he was like to train with.
'I'm totally lost now,' the member, who chose to remain anonymous, told News Corp.
Former Port Adelaide Power player Callum Hay (pictured) was found guilty of two counts of rape in a South Australian court
A gym member has spoken about the worrying signs they picked up while training with 33-year-old gym owner Hay (pictured)
'There was no warning. It just shut and no one knew why. Now we know.'
The member went on to explain that Hay was friendly and helpful, but underneath 'you could tell there was a different side to him'.
'It's weird. I'm surprised, but also I can see it from him. He was very, very charming.
'He's a pretty boy, but beneath that it was almost like he was trying to do something else. Like there was some kind of hidden motive.'
The gym member said the guilty verdict was 'confusing' because Hay would be 'your biggest asset in the gym'.
'He was the ultimate trainer,' they said.
'He made you feel like he had the best intentions and wanted to make you the best athlete, the best version of yourself you could be.
'I guess now looking back, though, there were signs. His training was quite hands-on, and I'm sure there are now lots of other women who would now be feeling really weird about the whole thing.'
A District Court jury found Hay (pictured) guilty of repeated attacks on a woman inside and just outside his business in the Adelaide Hills
According to someone who trained with Hay (pictured), he was 'very, very charming' but appeared to have a 'hidden motive'
Jim Pearce KC told the jury Hay forced himself on the victim while he was in a car with her outside the facility in February 2023.
'Before she left the fitness centre, the accused had tried to kiss her. She protested, she moved away. He persisted. She told him to stop, but he wasn't taking no for an answer,' Pearce said.
Pearce told the court Hay got into a car with the victim before 'grabbing her by the neck'.
'He pulled her head towards him and tried to kiss her,' Pearce said.
'She tried to pull away. He then put his hands down her pants and she protested. She told him to stop.'
The court heard that Hay exited the car shortly afterwards and 'put his hands down his shorts and started masturbating' while facing the victim.
'He was looking at her as he was masturbating. He was laughing at her,' Pearce said.
'Once again, he grabbed her by the face and pulled her across to him and tried to kiss her. He was groping her. He put his hands down her exercise shorts and put his fingers into her.
'It's clear he knew she was not consenting. The accused was trying to tell her that she was enjoying it, despite what she was saying.'
Hay was oblivious to the fact the woman recorded the incident on her phone.
The court heard that she can be heard saying in the video: 'I'm not kissing you. Stop, please leave me alone. I'm not agreeing to this. Get your hands off me.'
Days later, the former footy player again approached the woman when he saw her in the gym, the court heard.
'He walked up to her and forced her up against the wall,' Pearce said.
'He forced himself upon her and she was begging him to let her go. He was groping her. He groped her breasts.
'His penis was out by this stage. He picked her up and he positioned himself between her legs.'
Hay inserted his fingers into the woman, the court heard, but she had once again started to record the incident on her phone.
'She repeats multiple times, 'Stop, please. Callum, please stop',' Pearce told the jury.
'He responded to her question, he answered by saying 'trying to get into you'.'
The incident was reported to police by the woman in July 2023. Hay was arrested and charged a short time afterwards.
On Sunday, Hay's BFT gym posted the news that it would be closing permanently.
'It is with deep regret and heavy hearts that we announce our gym will be permanently closing as of Monday 18th August,' the gym's Instagram post said.
'We are truly grateful for the support, loyalty and community you have given us over the years.
'This has been more than a gym – it's been a family, and we will forever cherish the memories made here.'
In 2013, Hay copped a life ban from the SA Amateur Football League following two suspensions.
Daily Mail
