Former Dragon-i takeaway bosses forced to fork out over hygiene problems

Environmental health officers from Dudley Council carried out an inspection of Dragon-i in High Street in May last year, finding that floors and walls were not clean or well maintained.

Damaged equipment such as chopping boards, frying baskets, a sieve and food containers were being used in a condition likely to contaminate food.

Inspectors said the company had not 'adequately assessed and dealt with food safety hazards' at the takeaway - which was slapped with a hygiene rating of only one out of five.

V. City Limited, trading as Dragon-i, pleaded guilty to eight offences under the food hygiene regulations at Dudley Magistrates Court.

Magistrates heard that V.City Limited, which had an address of Dudley Road, Tipton on court papers, no longer ran the business.

The court imposed a fine of £800 and ordered the company to pay costs of £961 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Dudley Council confirmed after the case the business was now under new ownership and had been reinspected, receiving a satisfactory hygiene rating of three out of five.

Councillor Rachel Harris, cabinet member responsible for health, said: "Whilst we prefer to work with businesses to secure compliance with the law, we will not hesitate to take legal action against the minority of food businesses who do not take our advice on board and who fail to meet their legal responsibilities.

"Nearly 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.

"When planning a meal out, if you look at the online hygiene ratings, you get a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen and get an idea of what is behind the scenes at the places where you shop."