A former County Durham takeaway owner has appeared in court over multiple food hygiene charges - including a dead rat found under cooking equipment.
Mohamad Ali Ghanbarzadeh Behbahani was the owner of Santinos in Front Street, Sacriston, when an unannounced inspection on March 7 2023 found the business posed a threat to public health.
The environmental health officer, from Durham County Council, discovered a decomposing rat beneath cooking equipment in the kitchen.
The officer also found the premises were dirty and in a poor state of repair, cooking equipment was not being cleaned properly and staff had received inadequate food hygiene training.
Santinos, owned at the time by Behbahani, of Cravenwood Road, Reddish, Stockport, is now permanently closed.
The 38-year-old pleaded guilty to six breaches of the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 at Peterlee Magistrates' Court this week.
Magistrates heard that Mr Behbahani had been running the takeaway since June 2020 but had failed to notify Durham County Council, despite this being a legal requirement.
Following the inspection on 7 March 2023, Behbahani signed a voluntary closure agreement to keep the premises closed until satisfactory improvements had been made.
On returning to Santinos later that month, environmental health officers were satisfied with the improvements Behbahini had made and the business was allowed to reopen.
It went on to receive a 3-star ‘satisfactory’ food hygiene rating, but he decided to close the business later that year.
The court head Behbahani was apologetic during interview and pleaded guilty to the charges at the earliest opportunity.
Magistrates imposed fines and costs totalling £660.
Joanne Waller, head of community protection services at Durham County Council, said: “Food hygiene laws are in place to protect the public from what could potentially be life threatening illnesses.
Most read:
- Plans approved for Starbucks ‘drive-thru’ near this North East shopping centre
- Darlington Market crowned the UK's best small indoor market
- Teenagers instigated violent confrontation near Newcastle night club
Get more from The Northern Echo and start 2024 informed with 50% off an annual subscription or enjoy 3 months for just £3. Dive into local news and fulfil your resolution to stay updated. Click here.
“Our environmental health team supports food businesses in County Durham to improve and maintain their food hygiene standards. However, as this prosecution demonstrates, we will also take action against those who fall seriously short in their duty to ensure food is prepared in a safe and hygienic way.
“I would encourage anyone with any concerns about a food business in the county to contact us on 03000 261016 or ehcp@durham.gov.uk.”
To find out more about food safety in County Durham, including advice for businesses, visit www.durham.gov.uk/foodsafety
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel