Newport kebab shop owner fined £6,700 after cockroach infestation

A businessman who ran the takeaway has been handed a court bill of £6,700 for failing to deal with the problem.

Bircan Ozcan was ordered to close Newport Kebab House in February last year after inspectors from Telford & Wrekin Council visited the premises, Telford Magistrates Court heard.

The takeaway stayed closed for more than a month before being allowed to reopen when the infestation had been dealt with.

Ms Catherine Girvan, prosecuting, said officers visited the premises in Newport High Street after receiving a complaint from a member of the public that there were cockroaches there.

She said there were gaps in the floor, walls and tiles which allows pests to enter and circulate in the premises.

Ms Girvan said: "The officers say it was a major infestation.

"While the officers were present someone was served with chips from the premises.

"After a couple of minutes of the inspection the officers started to find cockroaches."

Officers issued a notice to stop the takeaway from trading.

Ms Girvan said: "Because they are cockroaches they come up from sewers and carry all manner of diseases. This was a significant infestation covering a large part of the premises."

She said Ozcan had been aware of the issue, adding: "In this case there was really nothing being done to prevent the infestation and then nothing done when the infestation had been noticed."

The court heard the investigation had cost the council about £2,500.

Ozcan, aged 57, of Roe Deer Green, Newport, pleaded guilty to six charges of failing to comply with EU provision concerning food safety and hygiene. The charges related to trading while aware of an active cockroach infestation and failing to ensure the floor and walls of the takeaway were kept clean and well maintained.

He also admitted failing to protect food against contamination, failing to provide adequate procedures to control pests and failing to notify Telford & Wrekin Council that he had become the food business operator of the takeaway.

Representing himself, Ozcan said he had intended to redecorate the premises and had made repairs to the floors and walls.

He told magistrates that the business had since lost a lot of customers and his son is currently operating the takeaway.

Ozcan was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £3,700 costs.