Judge bans Stafford cafe boss after food safety failings
A woman has been banned from running a food business after her cafe near Stafford was deemed a health risk.
Jacqueline Hall, the owner of the business on the Airfield Industrial Estate in Hixon, near Stafford, pleaded guilty to seven breaches of food hygiene regulations.
District Judge Timothy Boswell said there had been a "poor history of food safety" at the premises.
It was claimed there was a failure to have a hot or cold water supply connected to a sink in the kitchen.
There was also a lack of adequate drainage and a failure to maintain permanent food safety management procedures.
Hall, 56, of Tay Close, in Longton, Stoke, admitted four offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on November 28.
She was fined £1,105 with a £110.50 surcharge and ordered to pay the council legal costs of £1,000.
The company, Airfield Shop/Cafe Ltd, of which Hall is a sole director, was fined £50 with a £30 victim surcharge.
The offences took place in September 2018.
The court was also told that Hall was also convicted of food hygiene offences in 2017.
Mr Gary Cook, prosecuting for Stafford Borough Council, said the defendant had a poor history of compliance.
Judge Boswell issued a Hygiene Prohibition Order preventing Hall from participating in the management of any food business.
Hall confirmed to the court that her business was no longer trading.
After the hearing, Robert Simpson, head of operations at Stafford Borough Council, urged all food businesses to work with the authority to avoid putting the public at risk.
Mr Simpson said: “We want our food businesses to be safe and successful and will help them in any way we can because the last thing we want to do is to be forced to take them to court.
"Fortunately, cases such as this are very rare in Stafford Borough.”
He added: "Taking anyone to court will always be a last resort because we are always on hand to give businesses help and advice about food safety and hygiene.
“I would encourage owners and managers to get in touch and work with us to make sure they are complying with their legal responsibilities that are in place to protect the public.”
