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Filthy takeaway was infested with rats

29/ 8/2008

THE OWNER of a filthy takeaway which was closed down in January has been fined £6,000.

Qasim Ellahi, 46, of Ellen Wilkinson Crescent, Longsight, was told to pay up by Magistrates after mouse droppings were found near pizza dough and mould was found on walls.

The father-of-five, who ran Spice Land on Hyde Road, Gorton, pleaded guilty to six offences breaching the regulations and was told he could have been fined up to £5,000 for each offence.

But magistrates said took account of the fact that he had co-operated fully with the city council, and had spent more than £6,000 on carrying out necessary improvements to his premises.

Environmental health officers closed the takeaway in January after finding mice and rat infestations and filthy conditions.

At the time there were also rats in the disused cellar and back yard, with burrows dug in the yard and footprints in pools of cooking fat.

When Mr Ellahi was asked about the mouse droppings on food surfaces in the take away he replied: "Well, it's an old building."

He was eventually allowed to re-open for business after being thoroughly cleaned, having repair work done, and being re-inspected by council officials.

Mr Ellahi had appeared at the court in July, but claimed he didn't make any money from the takeaway or from his other businesses, and the case was deferred.

Laura Raine, prosecuting, told the bench: "Profits should not be put above the risk to public health, and there had been a significant risk."

Craig Gee, defending, told the court that his client was struggling financially, trying to manage both the takeaway and an off licence business. He said he was not an affluent man.

He said Mr Ellahi owned the Hyde Road premises, but had previously let it out to a tenant who failed to pay his rent, and subsequently disappeared.

The court was shown before-and-after photographs which he said illustrated the 'dramatic' difference since improvements had been made at Spice Land.

Mr Ellahi was fined £1,000 for each of the six offences, and told to pay a further £2,000 towards legal and enforcement costs incurred by the council.