A butcher shop was forced to close its doors after a health inspector rats swarmed, droppings of rodents and a dead mouse that turned in a fall.
Owner Tassaduk Ali, 49, admitted 29 hygiene violations in his company, which was an 'threatening risk to public health'.
Inspectors visited the butcher shop and the warehouse of its United Foods LTD company in Newport, Zuidoost -Wales.
They found a dead mouse in a fall, a resolutive mouse under the stairs and excrement of mice.
There were also indications of infection with rats in the warehouse and Ali had previous convictions for similar violations, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Tom Roberts public prosecutor said: 'There was clearly an active rodent plague. There were bags of rice that seemed to have been gnawed by rodents. '
A further inspection found raw meat in the same environment as ongoing construction work and walls covered with mold and dirt.
“There was a threatening risk to public health,” Mr. Roberts said.
A butcher shop was forced to close its doors after a health inspector had rats swarms and a dead mouse in a fall (shown: rodent droppings at the location)
Owner Tassaduk Ali, 49, admitted 29 hygiene violations in his company, which was an 'threatening risk for public health' (shown: a dead mouse found in a fall)
A further inspection found raw meat in the same environment as ongoing construction work and walls covered with mold and dirt (shown: the outside of United Foods)
“This defendant consistently has poor considering the requirements of food hygiene legislation despite interventions from the local government – that is an aggravating factor.”
Ali received a conditional punishment of six months and was ordered from the food hygiene ban.
'There has been a blatant contempt for the law. The repeated nature of the infringements deliberately indicates instead of reckless behavior, “said Mr. Roberts.
The company was fined £ 11,500 and he was instructed to pay another £ 5,175 in costs and a surcharge – a total of £ 16,675.
Nicholas, defensive, said that United Foods now has a five-star hygiene rating after 'considerable efforts and investments' to correct things.
Nevertheless, Judge Shomon Khan told Ali that this was 'a shocking matter' and forbade his business to operate for at least six months.
There were also indications of infection with rats in the warehouse and Ali had earlier convictions for similar violations, Cardiff Crown Court heard (shown: more rodent outputs around food)
Ali received a conditional punishment of six months and was given a food hygiene prohibition (shown: rat droppings on a bag of onions)
The company was fined £ 11,500 and he was instructed to pay another £ 5,175 in costs and a surcharge (shown: a large bag of lentils gnawed by rodents)
'Mice ran around dinner. There can be no shortcuts when it comes to public safety, “said Mr. Khan.
“Safety must come before the profit and your customers have brought a real risk of damage.”
After the hearing, CLLR Saeed Adan, cabinet member at Newport Council,: 'The council has the duty of care to protect residents and visitors against the kind of conditions found in United Foods and the associated building.
'I am happy that our action has led to this outcome and that the Kroonhof recognized the seriousness of the offenses committed.
“We will always work with companies that want to make improvements in their hygiene executions, but we will act against those who repeatedly show poor food hygiene management in this case.”
