Dudley takeaway's former owners fined after rat droppings found

New Pepitos in Dudley was visited by environmental health officers in December after anonymous complaints of rats at the premises.

The owners at the time, Mohammed Khaliq and Mohammed Zamir, pleaded guilty to breaches of health and hygiene regulations when they appeared in front of Wolverhampton magistrates this month.

The takeaway also had inadequate pest control procedures, dirty surfaces and equipment and no hot water in a handwash basin.

Neither Khaliq or Zamir currently run the takeaway, which is now trading under a new name and by new proprietors not connected to the case.

The court heard after the discovery of rat droppings, officers immediately closed the premises using emergency closure powers.

It was subsequently backed by a court order, which forced the closure of the business for six days while 'pest eradication works' were completed.

Khaliq and Zamir both pleaded guilty to nine offences under food hygiene and safety regulations at court on October 5.

The two defendants also admitted failing to register the food business, failing to implement a food safety management system and failing to train staff in food hygiene matters.

The court heard Khaliq, 44, of Bunns Lane, Dudley and 44-year-old Zamir, of Highfield Road, Dudley had only taken over the business a few days before the inspection and were inexperienced.

They were ordered to pay nearly £1,000 each – a fine of £450, costs of £485 and a £30 government victim surcharge.

Councillor Peter Miller, cabinet member responsible for health and wellbeing, said afterwards: “Conditions found at this premises were most unsatisfactory, which led to these prosecutions.

"We much prefer to work with businesses to secure compliance with the law, but we will not hesitate to take legal action against the minority of food businesses proprietors who fail to meet their legal responsibilities and put the health of the public at risk.

“Over half of all food outlets in the borough are achieving the top hygiene rating of five and the vast majority achieve a satisfactory rating of three or more.

"I would urge consumers to check out hygiene ratings online as these will give consumers a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen when they eat out, or behind the scenes at the places they shop.”