THE owners of Chaudhry’s TKC restaurant in Southall admitted eight food hygiene offences after council officers found the premises to be dirty and pest-infested.

MMM Caterers Ltd appeared at Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court following a string of failed food hygiene inspections and non-compliance with basic food safety standards.

Chaudhry’s TKC received a number of written warnings, enforcement notices and two temporary closures in the last three and a half years and had traded under a food hygiene rating of zero out of five stars from December 2012 to April this year.

The owner requested a follow up inspection in mid-2013 to try to improve this rating.

Despite being told a visit was imminent, a surprise inspection by the Ealing Council food safety team again found major failures.

The officer carrying out the inspection found dead flies on work surfaces, mouse faeces behind shelving, poor food storage and a lack of hot water for washing hands or equipment.

A follow-up visit three weeks later uncovered more horrors, including live cockroaches inside a refrigerated display containing uncovered food and inside kitchen cabinets.

The business had also failed to rectify the problems uncovered at the earlier inspection.

Follow up inspections during November found continued evidence of mouse and cockroach activity, dirty equipment and poor cleanliness, which led to the council taking the business to court.

MMM Caterers were ordered to pay £1,500 for each of their eight offences, plus the council’s full costs of £3,615.88 and a victim surcharge of £120, bringing their total costs to £15,735.88.

Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said: “I would advise everyone to always check the food hygiene rating of any business before they shop or dine.

“This prosecution should serve as a warning to all food businesses that it doesn’t matter how well established they are. We will take tough action if they don’t operate within the rules.”

Visit www.food.gov.uk to check the food hygiene rating of local businesses.