A former takeaway boss was fined a total of £5,760 after Trafford Council environmental health officers discovered a mice infestation at his premises.
Tariq Mahmood, former boss of Spice Valley on Great Stone Road in Stretford, pleaded guilty to 17 offences around hygiene and staff training at Manchester Magistrates Court on March 9, 2022.
Mr Mahmood was fined £1,600 along with £4,000 costs and £160 victim surcharge. Additionally, the court also prohibited Mr Mahmood from operating a food business for three years.
The court heard Trafford Council environmental health officers carried out an unannounced visit to the premises on the 7th November 2018 and found evidence of a mouse infestation, no food safety management system in place and staff who were not trained. The takeaway was voluntarily closed until the Council was satisfied the imminent risk to health was removed.
Several visits were undertaken before the business re-opened on the 12th November 2018. Hygiene Improvement Notices were served requiring a food safety management system to be completed and staff to received food hygiene training. However, Mr Mahmood failed to comply with the notice requiring training.
Council officers made further visits between November 2019 and May 2019 where repeat issues were found including further low level evidence of mouse activity, failure to implement food safety controls, failure to train staff, and failure to maintain the premises in a clean condition.
The premises was closed and Mr Mahmood was charged with the 17 offences and ordered to attend court.
Anser Mahmood, who is the brother of Mr Mahmood, appeared in court in January charged with one offence of obstructing authorised officers between 7th November 2018 and 9th January 2020. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at a hearing 27th January 2022 to six weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, 100 hours community service and £128 victim surcharge. Between November 2018 and May 2019 Anser Mahmood portrayed himself as Mr Tariq Mahmood, the food business operator of Spice Valley.
Cllr Stephen Adshead, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, said:
“Trafford Council will do everything in its power to bring to justice those takeaway owners who feel this kind of behaviour is acceptable. Our residents have every right to feel safe eating at takeaways across the borough and we will not accept poor standards of hygiene in any way, shape or form.
“We will continue to carry out spot checks at establishments across the borough to ensure that no laws are being broken and that good standards of hygiene is the number one priority.”
Posted on Monday 14th March 2022