Rat scurried past health inspectors during inspection

FILTHY: a cockroach crushed into the floor

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THE boss of a filthy Oldham takeaway was told by a Crown Court judge he put the health and wellbeing of his customers at serious risk.

Nadeem Hussain had already had a warning letter from the council about the state of his business in Glodwick. And this time he paid the price — a £4,000 fine.

When environmental health officers went to inspect the premises in Waterloo Street last August they were stunned by what they found.

A live rat scurried past when they moved a piece of sheet metal. Rat and mouse droppings were found behind a freezer and a dead cockroach had been squashed into the floor. Fridge seals and shelving were filthy, floor tiles were cracked and missing, and there were no proper hand-washing facilities nor hygienic clothing.

Oldham magistrates sent the case to Crown Court because they thought the case too serious for them to handle. Forty one-year-old Hussain pleaded guilty to eight charges of failing to comply with food and hygiene regulations.

Judge Peter Lakin fined Hussain £4,000 plus £1,700 in costs.

Hussain, who has run the business for 13 years, was in Pakistan at the time of the inspection last August, leaving the takeaway in the hands of family members. Mark Fireman, defending, said procedures which should have been maintained hadn’t been maintained.

The food outlet was closed immediately following the inspection and was allowed to reopen the following day, after pest proofing and a deep clean. Inspections have been carried out since and conditions have dramatically improved.