Revealed: 'Unsafe' Chinese takeaway was riddled with mouse droppings

Da Liu, who has run New Wok on Darlaston Road in Pleck since May 2015, said he had been 'taken over' by running the business and hygiene problems had spiralled out of control just months after he took it over.

Mouse droppings were found throughout, including near food and utensils, along with a gap at the bottom of a door at the back of the takeaway which allowed pests to come and go freely.

The extensive problems were found during an inspection taken by Walsall Council environmental health officers, which they undertook when the takeaway was open at about 6.40pm on November 10, 2015.

They also found floors in the main cooking and food preparation area, underneath and behind a metal table and around a fridge were dirty.

A wooden board had been placed to cover an understairs store area, which had gaps which would allow pests to get into the kitchen.

Its chef and counter assistant were there when the council visited and told them Da Liu owned the business.

He admitted three counts of failing to comply with food safety and hygiene requirements at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Prosecuting, Miss Kerry Munro said: "Officers uncovered very poor conditions and a number of food contraventions. Mouse droppings were found throughout the premises. There were poor conditions allowing pest access and poor levels of cleaning."

The takeaway was closed by environmental health officers immediately following the inspection because of a fear it posed an immediate risk to public safety. It reopened two days later after improvements had been made on November 12, 2015.

According to the Food Standards Agency, New Wok was again visited by environmental health officers on March 8 this year and scored a rating of 2 out of 5, which means improvement was necessary.

A translator for Liu said: "When he was doing the business, he did his best to clean up everything but he did not know the optimum requirements."

Chairman of the bench Mr Simon Carlow told Liu said: "These were very serious offences. As the owner of the takeaway you're responsible to the public to ensure that the food that is provided is prepared in the correct manner. We have heard evidence of very shoddy procedures, we have heard evidence of mouse droppings, dirt around the takeaway.

"However we have taken into account though the shop was closed it was only closed for two days and has remained open ever since."

Liu must pay a fine of £1,280 and a victim surcharge of £128. He must also pay costs of £2,131.

That total of £3,539 was given for one offence. No separate penalty was given for the other two.