Magistrates heard how company directors of Uruba Restaurant Ltd have voluntarily liquidated the company following the issues at the restaurant

A couple who ran a Birmingham restaurant where a dead mouse was found in the kitchen told a court they are “embarrassed, ashamed and very sorry” about their failings.

Birmingham Magistrates heard how widespread mouse droppings were discovered throughout Al Uruba Restaurant, on Stratford Road, during a routine inspection by council environmental health officers in June last year.

Directors Mohamed Alawi Sherif and Sihaam Sherif pleaded guilty to four breaches of the Food and Hygiene Safety Regulations at the hearing on Thursday, September 24.

The court heard how the couple were experiencing a number of difficulties which resulted in the issues arising and had since voluntarily liquidated their company Uruba Restaurant Limited and left the trade.

Prosecutors said there was evidence of mice activity within the premises including the presence of a dead mouse in the kitchen.

Mouse droppings were discovered on shelves and food containers, on floors behind equipment and fixtures and in customer seating areas.

Officers said droppings were present on the floors throughout the premises while a side wall was damaged allowing pests to get inside.

The council also said there was a lack of effective cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, a failure to ensure good food hygiene practices and no satisfactory daily pest control monitoring being carried out.

Jane Sarginson, defending, said Mohamed Sherif worked as an Arabic teacher while Sihaam Sherif is an NHS recruitment officer.

She said the couple were providing care and support for close family members, based elsewhere in the country, being treated for cancer among other issues which happened when the offences took place.

She said: “Both defendants are embarrassed to be here. They are ashamed and very sorry that this situation arose.

“The situation that created the problem was started by a serious road traffic accident where a car crashed into the building on January 3 2025.

“The building does not belong to them and is the obligation of the landlord, who said he had difficulties and was waiting for his insurance to repair the structural building.

“They did not ignore the situation. They installed metal barriers as best they could and they did engage with pest control.

“They did what they could to try to ensure things were going smoothly but they did not have their eye on the ball and the situation arose.

“They had some very difficult family issues and they were providing support physically and emotionally. They wanted to get this right and they did not intend for the shop to deteriorate to the extent it did.”

When an inspection notice was served, improvements were made to the shop and Ms Sarginson said that, in July, the restaurant was given a food hygiene rating of 5 – the top mark available.

But she added: “Because of the emotional turmoil, they could not manage it. They placed the company into voluntary liquidation – they have done the right thing.”

Mohamed Sherif was fined £410, ordered to pay a £164 surcharge and costs of £250. Sihaam Sherif was fined £392, ordered to pay a £157 surcharge and costs of £250.