Mice infested Walsall store hit with £4,400 court bill
The owner of a grocery store which was temporarily closed down by environmental health officers after they found a mouse infestation has been handed a bill of more than £4,400.
Family Choice, in Chapel Street, Blakenall, Walsall, was issued with a hygiene emergency prohibition notice, requiring its immediate closure, following a visit by environmental inspectors during October 6 last year.
The convenience store was ordered to close its doors after mouse droppings were discovered throughout the premises, on floors, shelving and amongst packaged foods.
More than 60 mice were caught and during the inspection officers also discovered packets of crisps that had been gnawed by rodents but which were on display in the store for sale.
The owner reopened on October 15 after addressing concerns raised by the environmental inspectors.
Legal proceedings were launched against the store owner Sivaranjan Sivavsnunathan who was fined £750 after admitting four offences of failing to comply with EU provision concerning food safety and hygiene and ordered to pay £1,356 costs and a £75 victim surcharge.
David Elrington, Walsall Council's environmental health manager, said: "This was one of the worst mice infestations the environmental health team has seen in a convenience store."
