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Takeaway operator fined £6,344.06 and banned for cockroach infestation

| March 27, 2015

A food business operator who operated a takeaway business in Castle Street, High Wycombe has been banned from managing a food business following a successful prosecution by Wycombe District Council.

The prosecution took place on Wednesday 25th March 2015 by Wycombe District Council under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, for food safety offences committed in June 2014.

In June 2014 the Council received a complaint from a member of the public alleging they had purchased undercooked chicken from the premises.

Environmental Health Officers visited the premises and found that the kitchen was filthy and infested with cockroaches. Officers closed the business after being satisfied that the premises presented an imminent risk to health.

Following the closure the Council attended High Wycombe Magistrate’s Court where the Court issued a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order confirming their satisfaction that an imminent health risk had existed.

Wycombe District Council brought a case against the food business operator at the premises to High Wycombe Magistrate’s Court for two food safety offences of failing to take adequate precautions against pests and running a food premises that was not clean.

The Court were shown photographs and samples of cockroaches taken from the premises last June. The Court were also told of the food business operators previous convictions for food hygiene offences. On Tuesday 16th July 2013 the food business operator pleaded guilty to seven food safety offences in relation to a takeaway on Arnison Avenue in High Wycombe which he ran with a business partner.

Taking into account the food business operators guilty plea and previous history the Court ordered him to pay £2,500 fines for each offence, £1,224.06 towards the Council’s costs and a victim surcharge of £120 giving a total of £6,344.06.

The Court also issued a Hygiene Prohibition Order on the food business operator which prohibits him from participating in the management of a food business.

Further information can be found on the Wycombe District Council website.

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