Johnny Spice, located at 46 Queen Street, had been trading under unhygienic conditions with evidence of mouse activity and poor levels of cleaning throughout the premises.
Mouse droppings were found in the restaurant’s kitchen in July 2018.
Mr Kobir Ahmed, director of Johnny Banqueting Ltd was sentenced yesterday, (15 August) at Wolverhampton Crown Court with four breaches of The Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013 for failing to:
- have adequate procedures in place to control pests
- keep the premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition
- protect food against contamination likely to render the food unfit for human consumption
- permit good food hygiene practices
The food business has a food hygiene rating of one which requires major improvement.
Mr Ahmed has been ordered by the Crown Court to 2 years’ prohibition from participating in the management of a food business, 180 hours unpaid community work and pay costs of £5,332.
If any of these terms are breached, Mr Ahmed is liable to return to the Crown Court.
Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment at City of Wolverhampton Council said: “Poor food hygiene can cause terrible illnesses and this business owner has knowingly put its customers at risk.
“Our food safety officers spent a lot of time with Mr Ahmed only for him to ignore their advice and continue to breach food hygiene regulations.
“It would have been significantly cheaper for this food business to have listened to our officers and had proper pest control measures in place and I hope other businesses take note of the financial penalties involved in this case.
“I would like to thank our food safety team for bringing this case forward and for the work they do to protect the public.
“I hope this sends out a strong message to food businesses that we take food hygiene very seriously in Wolverhampton and not complying with regulations will not be tolerated.”
Mr Ahmed pleaded guilty to all four offences at an initial hearing on 18 July 2019 at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court. At the time, given the seriousness of the offences, District Judge Wilkinson referred the case to Crown Court.
At the same sitting on July 18, Kobir Ahmed received a 4 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, a one-month curfew for which he was tagged and monitored and a £950 fine for fly tipping.
To check food hygiene ratings in Wolverhampton, visit Food hygiene rating scores.
