A Halal takeaway in Hayes has been slammed with a four figure fine after committing NINE food hygiene offences, including rat droppings being found in their kitchen.
Hot & Spicy in Coldharbour Lane, a take away food shop preparing rice and curried dishes, was fined £6,500 after Hillingdon Council 's Food Health and Safety team found they had repeatedly breached hygiene regulations.
During a routine inspection in March 2015, rat droppings were found inside the kitchen and standards of hygiene were poor, including a lack of cleaning and inadequate food temperature controls.
The business was closed following this inspection, until pest control procedures were put in place to prevent rats entering the business.
The business has now been taken over by new owners, who have turned the takeaway around to achieve a three-star hygiene rating in March this year.
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The shop's former owner, Malik Mohammad Yousaf, had been offered food safety coaching in 2014 but this was declined.
Yousaf was found guilty of nine food hygiene offences in February 2016 and was issued with a fine of £6,500 with further costs of £2,879, at a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on March 22.
A sentence of four months imprisonment was imposed in the event Mr Yousaf defaulted on any payments.
Flies found on the surfaces of food
The council took the decision to prosecute when, despite a number of warnings, Yousaf continued to commit offences.
Temperature checks at the takeaway were inadequate and flies were found in the premises and on the surfaces of food.
At the most recent inspection in March 2016, an improvement in food hygiene conditions was recorded.
Cllr Jonathan Bianco , cabinet member for finance, property and business services, said: "We take the health of residents very seriously and this case demonstrates the serious consequences of failing to comply with food safety laws."
