Chinese takeaway fined £12,000 after inspectors found mouse droppings near prawns, dirty fryer and leaky pipe

A Chinese takeaway in Birmingham suffered such a severe mouse infestation and other hygiene failings environmental health officers had to take more than 100 photos to document all the evidence.

Birmingham Magistrates Court was told mouse droppings were found throughout Taste of Sichuan, in Hurst Street, following an inspection in June last year.

Council environmental health officers had been alerted to the issues by West Midlands Police, prompting investigations into the business, which is also known as PinChuan.

At a hearing on Thursday (July 30) Simon Mortimer, prosecuting for Birmingham Council, submitted 144 photographs as evidence documenting the issues at the premises.

These included mouse droppings found on floors and wash basins, as well as near containers. Mouse droppings were also discovered near prawns and other ingredients.

Officers also discovered gaps in the premises which would allow pests such as mice to enter the takeaway.

They also found floors, a wok cooker, a fryer, pipework and a rear door were dirty whilst there was a leaking drainpipe in the basement. In addition to this, a wooden chopping board was heavily scored and not kept clean.

Mr Mortimer said: “Pictures paint a thousand words and the environmental health officer took 144 photographs.

“There was no procedures in place to control pests and there were gaps in walls to allow ingress.

“The premises had not been kept clean, including a chopping table not kept clean as required. The risk to the public was clearly huge.”

No representative from Chef Tan Ltd, which runs Taste of Sichuan, attended the court hearing and magistrates found the four charges against the company proved in its absence.

Chef Tan Ltd was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay a compulsory surcharge of £2,000. It was also ordered to pay £1,7220 costs.