'Massaging fat business fliers gave us RSI'

Two Virgin Atlantic beauty therapists suffered repetitive strain injury after giving massages to overweight businessmen, a court heard.

Jayne Evans, 40, claims she was left struggling with simple tasks such as pulling on jeans or slicing vegetables.

She and Michelle Hindmarch, 35, say they suffered chronic muscular pain in their shoulders, upper back and wrists after giving intensive shiatsu massage to business and first class passengers at the Clubhouse lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3. They are suing Virgin Atlantic for more than £500,000.

Theodore Huckle, counsel for the women, told the High Court they had been forced to end their careers, and the pain meant peeling carrots or taking a roast from the oven was beyond them. Mrs Evans, of Ruislip, was sent home after an arduous session in 2005 when a large male client asked her to massage even harder, the judge was told.

She is seeking £327,000 from Virgin for exposing her to the risk of injury. She is still at the firm in an office role. Mrs Hindmarch, of Banstead, is seeking £235,000. Virgin accepts liability but contests the extent of the injury and the level of damages. Judge Martin McKenna reserved judgment to a later date.