Walsall curry house owner avoids prison over 'worst' mice infestation
The owner of a mice and cockroach-infested curry house described as being among the worst ever seen by public health officers has avoided a jail sentence.
Ibrar Hussain was running the Caldmore Balti House when inspectors found mouse droppings covering food preparation surfaces.
The extent of the problem at the premises, in Caldmore Road, Caldmore, Walsall, was discovered after a tip-off that led to a raid.
Mouse droppings were also seen on crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils and in drinking glasses, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Hussain, aged 57, of Drayton Street, Walsall, admitted four counts of hygiene failings which led to the premises being temporarily closed down by Walsall Council in March last year.
See also: Vermin infestation shuts Walsall balti house
Mice infested curry house one of worst
Mr Jonathan Salmon, prosecuting, said the inspectors described the restaurant and take away as 'filthy' and causing a 'dangerous risk' to public health.
"The officers describe it has one of the worst they have ever seen," Mr Salmon said.
He told the court that officers checked the food preparation area.
"It was literally peppered with mouse droppings. The officer says there was no need to search as they were literally everywhere on work surfaces, shelving, on crockery and in a skillet used to hold hot Balti dishes.
"Shockingly there appeared to be no attempt to clean these premises. Food was being prepared alongside and amongst mouse droppings," Mr Salmon said.
He added that rat droppings were also discovered as well as cockroaches.
Checks the following day revealed that eight mice had been caught in traps overnight as well as four cockroaches.
Mr Thomas Scholfield, defending, said significant remedial work was carried out after the raid including filling gaps around windows and doors. He said Hussain had since acquired a food hygiene certificate.
"The business was reopened on March 11 and has remained open since. My client had been in charge for some 12 months. In my submission the breaches were borne out of inexperience. He was a chef for many years, but the process of managing and running a business he unfortunately struggled with," he said.
The restaurant is now being run by the defendant's sons.
For each of the four offences Hussain was sentenced to six months jail suspended for 18 months, given 150 hours unpaid work to run concurrently. He was also ordered to pay £2,321 costs.
Judge Michael Challinor told him the offences had crossed the custody threshold. But he told him: "The potential for causing illness in my judgement was really high although I accept there was no evidence of particular individuals suffering as a result. Your culpability is lower by reason of your relative inexperience in running a business."
