A Local Indian Sweets and Pakora shop owner was fined after mouse droppings were found in his shop.
The owner of an Indian sweets and pakora shop inBirminghamhas been fined hundred of pounds, following an inspection that found his premise littered with mouse droppings.
Environmental health officers were left in shock when they discovered faeces at Best Pakora Shop inStratford Road, Sparkhill, the court heard.
28-year-old Shahzan Yasin, ofPershore Road, Selly Oak, pleaded to five counts of ignoring food hygiene regulations and was ordered to pay £500, as well as a further £1,028 prosecution costs and £15 victim surcharge.
Emma Hall, prosecuting on behalf of Birmingham City Council, said the officers had visited the shop on 21st June last year for a routine hygiene inspection.
“The conditions were so bad that officers felt there was an imminent risk to consumers’ health and went to court to secure an order to close the shop down,” she said.
Magistrates were shown pictures of the mouse droppings found in the shop, including those found on the shelves were cooking ingredients were stored.
She said: “There were mouse droppings next to utensils on a storage shelf; on a plastic funnel in a basket of fresh mint; on an open bag of seeds; on the floor next to the sink; in a box of coriander; on a shelf near to an open bowl of batter and bags of sugar and behind the chest freezer in the store room.”
Both the shop and the kitchen were filthy, she said, and the premises had flaking damp plaster and paint was found covering sacks of potatoes and onions.
Miss Hall also said that the staff claimed to have killed seven mice overnight.
After another visit the following day, the officers returned again and were satisfied with the pest control procedures that took place and allowed the shop to re-open.
Officers returned to the shop the next day but found more droppings.
Mr Yasin, who defended himself without a lawyer, told the court, “This all happened at a time when I had been away from the business for around a month and the staff had not been running it to my normal high standards.
“I admit that what happened was bang out of order and I have since given staff training and worked hard to turn the shop around.”
