When Ketan Aggarwal, a 30-year-old Londoner with autism, was ridiculed by a spin class instructor at his local Virgin Active gym, he decided to take retribution into his own hands. After spending 2 years teaching himself law with the help of library books and online resources, he took Virgin Active to court – and won.

In a distressing May 2015 incident, Aggarwal was reportedly called ‘stupid’ multiple times by the accused gym staff member during a spin class, and was rudely berated for requesting a change of music. He made an official complaint, but was ignored, which led him to file a legal claim. Representing himself in court, he ended up victorious, and was awarded £1,390 as well as a written apology from Virgin Active. The instructor was dismissed from his job at the gym.

“When someone discriminates [against] someone with a mental disability, they don’t think they are going to pick up law, submit a legal claim and then successfully argue it in a court of law,” Aggarwal publicly stated. “It felt amazing to win.”

This is Ketan Aggarwal, an autistic man who was repeatedly called ‘stupid’ by a gym instructor

Image credits: Ketan Aggarwal

The 30 y/o Londoner decided to sue Virgin Active after his complaint to the gym was ignored

Image credits: Ketan Aggarwal

He spent 2 years teaching himself law, with the help of library books and online resources

Image credits: Peter Stack

Representing himself in court, Aggarwal proved that he had been discriminated against

Image credits: Unknown

In a sweeping victory, Virgin Active was ordered to pay him a total of £1,390 in compensation

Image credits: Ketan Aggarwal

They were also ordered to issue a written apology, all Aggarwal really ever wanted

Image credits: Google Maps

“It wasn’t about the money…” he publicly stated, but added that “it felt amazing to win”

Image credits: Ketan Aggarwal