The former owner of a well-known restaurant on Wellfield Road in Cardiff, Himalaya, has been fined over £1000 for a string of food hygiene offences.
Samsul Islam, 32, was advised by the court that the fine would have been significantly higher and in the ‘tens-of-thousands' if Mr Islam wasn't unemployed.
It is understood that Mr Islam sold the business in April 2019 and the Himalaya is now under new ownership.
The case came to light, when officers from the Shared Regulatory Service visited the Indian restaurant on November 21, 2018, and found evidence of ‘wide-spread' mouse droppings throughout the food storage and food preparation areas as well as piles of rubbish in the back yard.
Following the inspection, the investigating officer concluded that there was a "real risk of contamination of food to satisfy the health risk condition."
Mr Islam voluntarily closed the restaurant and was given advice on the work that was required to be done. A further inspection on November 22, showed that structural work had been carried out, as well as a deep clean and the restaurant re-opened soon after.
A further inspection was then carried out on January 30, 2019 and officers found "more wide-spread droppings throughout the food storage and preparation areas". During the inspection, a food hygiene rating of two was displayed, instead of the true food hygiene rating of one. The restaurant was voluntarily closed again.
A Cardiff Council Spokesman, said: "When officers carried out a final inspection on February 1stthis year, officers were satisfied that bait boxes had been laid, and the traps hadn't caught any rodents, the inspection showed that further structural work had been carried out and the kitchen was clean.
Mr Islam, who represented himself in court, explained that at the time of the inspections, his full attention wasn't on the restaurant because his father was receiving medical treatment in London, which involved regular visits to the Capital. Mr Islam also claimed that he did arrange visits from a pest control company but they failed to show up.
Samsul Islam was fined £1,100, ordered to pay £400 in costs and a victim surcharge of £30.
A Council spokesman continued: "We take these matters extremely seriously as any breach of the law could see someone's health seriously impacted.
"We will have no hesitation in prosecuting, if we find businesses where standards have slipped below an acceptable level. We want all food establishments in the city to meet the required standards.
"Our officers carry our regular checks and will visit every food premises in the city, so we urge all food outlets to make sure they are running a lawful businesses or be prepared to face the consequences. "