THE OWNER of a Leamington curry house has been fined £8,000 after failing to adequately control pests.
Mohammed Muneer, of Ali’s Curry House in Bath Street, pleaded guilty to two offences at Leamington Magistrates’ Court on June 4 following a prosecution by Warwick District Council for breaking Food Hygiene Regulations.
He admitted failing to ensure adequate procedures were in place to control pests and not maintaining good practices regarding pest control – including the protection from contamination by pests.
In addition to the fine, full costs of £4,971 were awarded to the council.
The court heard how council officers discovered a rat infestation in the premises during an unannounced inspection in September 2014 and how only ten weeks prior to the inspection, Mr Muneer had accepted a caution for other food hygiene offences.
Mr Muneer agreed to close the restaurant following the September inspection until the public health risk had been removed.
But the chairman of the bench told Mr Muneer his response to addressing the rat infestation had been ‘totally inadequate’.
He noted that even after closing the premises and carrying out remedial works the business was rated a score of ‘1’ – major improvement required – under the National Food Hygiene Rating.
Councillor Moira-Ann Grainger, spokeswoman for health, said: “Warwick District Council works with food businesses to encourage high standards and protect the public.
“We will take enforcement action against businesses that fail to comply with the standards required of them and those who put the public at risk.”
