West Midlands takeaway boss fined for pests says negative social media coverage has 'financially ruined' him

A Birmingham takeaway boss who was forced to close temporarily due to cockroach and mice infestations said negative social media coverage has left him “financially ruined”.

Sohail Aslam, director of Marhaba Kebabish Ltd, told Birmingham Magistrates Court that trade at Ditta’s Desi Karahi, on Walford Road dropped after it was ordered shut down in September last year.

And he added the cockroach infestation arose from rubbish dumped outside his shop during the bin strikes in the city.

At a hearing on Thursday (November 5) the court heard how live and dead cockroaches were found in food preparation areas along with extensive mouse droppings in the premises.

Simon Mortimer, prosecuting for Birmingham City Council, said there was also a poor standard of cleanliness and food preparation areas were in “unsatisfactory condition”.

A hygiene emergency prohibition notice was served that day, ordering an immediate closure, and an order was granted by the court on September 24 last year.

Mr Mortimer said the premises were revisited three times before officers concluded there was no longer a risk on September 29 and allowed it to reopen.

He said: “The legislation exists to protect public health and that food supplied to customers is fit for consumption. Clearly it was not.

“There was a risk of injury to public health. The pest activity in areas associated with food preparation clearly illustrates this.”

Aslam, who spoke through an interpretor, said he had not long started the business at the time of the inspection and was spending a lot of money fixing problems with the building and trying to improve the premises.

He said: “We tried our best and I did as much as I could do. After the shop was closed, it went on social media and my business went down. I’m worried all the time.

“It is still open but it does not get that many customers. I’m financially ruined. I’ve lost a lot of money.”

Aslam, who also said he has suffered from a string of health problems, added: “Because of the bin strikes, the cockroaches came in from rubbish dumped outside the shop.

“That’s the cause of the infestation. The council did not pick up the rubbish.”

Magistrates fined the company £10,000 and ordered it to pay a surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £2,153.