Ban for boss of 'dirty' Telford takeaway
The operator of a "dirty" fast food takeaway in Telford has been temporarily banned from running food businesses.
Ka-Fai Woo, of China City, in Dawley, pleaded guilty to five offences of failing to comply with food safety and hygiene regulations.
Telford Magistrates Court heard that it was the second time in 11 years that Woo had been prosecuted over the greasy state of the premises.
Miss Catherine Girvan, prosecuting, said that following the latest inspections China City, in King Street, was given a zero rating earlier this year.
"When the inspectors visited it was immediately clear that standards had not improved. For example, the deep fat fryer was very greasy, inside it and around the hinges," she said.
"The points where hands would make contact were dirty and greasy, as was the cooker top.
"The pipes were covered in foil. Some of the offences related to the state of the premises and him not being in a position to keep it clean properly."
Remorseful
Mr Mohammed Khan, mitigating, said: "From the outset I can say that Mr Woo and the company accept the seriousness of the allegations and he is remorseful for his actions."
Mr Khan said his client found himself in difficulty after his 27-year marriage broke down and his wife stopped helping in the restaurant. He said that following two recent deep cleans the rating rose to three.
Woo was convicted in 2007 for similar offences when the business had to cough up more than £2,500 in costs.
For the latest matters Woo was ordered to £2,987.40 costs. He and the company China Star City Ltd were each fined £960 and ordered to pay victims surcharge £96 for failing to comply. He was also prohibited from managing any food business, but can re-apply for the decision to be lifted after six months.
In a separate hearing Jain Guo Tao, 50, of the Happy Highley, in Orchard Street, Highley, pleaded guilty to 17 offences also relating to the failure to comply with food safety and hygiene rules.
He was fined £1,000, ordered to pay costs £2,900, and victims surcharge of £100 after the bench were shown photographs of grimy kitchen equipment, and raw and cooked meat being kept next to each other.
