Kebab house forced to close after infestation of cockroaches

A Midlands kebab house was forced to close down and its owner fined £3,000 plus costs after an infestation of cockroaches was discovered on the premises.

The Newport Kebab House in Shropshire was visited by an Environmental Health Officer and Food Safety Officer last year after Telford & Wrekin Council received a complaint from a member of the public.

A court was told the visit resulted in the business being ordered close down until the infestation was removed.

A certified pest control contractor had to be brought in by the food outlet’s owners to deal with the problem.

Two months after the initial visit, the kebab house was reinspected and after being given the all clear was allowed to resume trading.

At Telford Magistrates Court, the owner of the facility, Bircan Ozcan, of Roe Deer Green, Newport, pleaded guilty to a number of charged relating to food safety and hygiene regulations.

He was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,700.

Cllr Hilda Rhodes, cabinet member for public protection, safety & enforcement at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “When our officers visited the premises they saw what they described as an ‘extensive and active’ infestation of cockroaches throughout the kitchen.

“During that same visit, the officers saw a customer being served, which led to the business closing.

“Telford & Wrekin Council takes food safety very seriously. Our food hygiene inspectors regularly inspect premises and award the premises with their individual food hygiene rating and take action where necessary.”