Six-year director ban for pizzeria boss who employed illegal workers

The owner of a Cumbria pizzeria and takeaway has been banned from acting as a company director for the next six years after employing two illegal workers.

Dondu Ozmicco, 35, employed the workers at Flames Pizzeria on New Market Street in Ulverston, which was raided by Immigration Enforcement in 2020.

Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “Dondu Ozmicco’s failure to ensure the required right-to-work checks were carried out led to the employment of two illegal workers, in contravention of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

“This represents a serious breach of legislation and of the standards expected of company directors.

“As a result of this breach, she cannot be involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company in the UK until January 2030.”

Ozmicco, of Scale Hall Lane, Lancaster, was the sole director of Flames Pizzeria – NM Catering Ltd, from its formation in December 2019, until it entered liquidation in March 2022.

Following the raid, a civil penalty of £20,000 was issued by Immigration Enforcement in March 2021, which remained unpaid at liquidation.

One of the workers said he had worked at the premises for between one and two weeks.

HM Inspector, Kendal Barnett, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, said: “Illegal working cheats honest workers out of employment, puts vulnerable people at risk, and defrauds the public purse.

“We will continue to work with partners including the Insolvency Service, as well as law enforcement agencies to tackle illegal migration in all its forms.”

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a disqualification undertaking from Ozmicco, and her six-year ban began on January 10, 2024.

It prevents her from becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.