Owner of cockroach-infested takeaway failed to deep-clean and went on trading

A COCKROACH infestation was discovered in the kitchen of a Cardiff takeaway by inspectors after the owner ignored a request to deepclean the restaurant.

Flame Grillhouse, in Clare Road, Riverside, was visited by food hygiene officers from Cardiff council who found dead and live cockroaches in the kitchen, preparation area and front service area.

Owner Mohammed Hussain was told by pest-control contractors to close his business for the the building to be deep-cleaned, but he failed to do so and carried on trading.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard customers could have been at risk of salmonella, E.coli and typhoid fever.

Prosecutor Nik Strobl said the business had initially been given a one-star hygiene rating, upgraded to a three-star rating in 2018.

Describing the incriminating inspection, the barrister said: “There was evidence of full-life-cycle cockroach infestation. There were live and dead cockroaches.”

He added that despite being told about the problem, Hussain failed to undertake cleaning of his business and continued to serve food.

After the discovery the defendant agreed to voluntarily close the restaurant, and on September 3 another inspection was carried out which satisfied the officers as the infestation had been eradicated.

The restaurant reopened and currently has a four-star hygiene rating as of November 6, 2019.

Defence barrister William Bebb said his client wished to apologise to the court.

Judge Niclas Parry sentenced Hussain to four months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He must carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work and pay £750 in costs.