Merry Hill Subway franchise fined after mouse droppings found in sandwich preparation area

The operator Sirtek (Dudley) Ltd pleaded guilty to five offences under food hygiene legislation on the lower mall of the Merry Hill shopping centre in a case heard at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on July 2.

Failings were identified by Dudley Council’s environmental health officers during a visit to the shopping centre outlet in January 2024.

Officers discovered mouse droppings in several key areas of the premises, including the front servery and sandwich preparation area, the staff toilet, and the rear storage area where packaging and cleaning materials were kept.

The shop was closed under emergency powers due to an immediate risk to health, the council said.

It was only allowed to reopen after officers confirmed that all necessary cleaning and pest control measures had been completed and that there was no evidence of ongoing pest activity.

The court imposed a fine of £2,000, along with a victim surcharge of £800 and prosecution costs of £2,400, bringing the total financial penalty to £5,200.

Councillor Phil Atkins, cabinet member responsible for trading standards and environmental health, said: “Our environmental health team is there to ensure businesses prepare and serve food in a way that meets the expected standards.

“This shocking case highlights the fact that we will not hesitate to pursue businesses who are not fulfilling their obligations, and we are pleased to see this verdict in court.”