Restaurant owner ordered to pay £30,000 after inspectors found dead mice and rotting food

The director of a pizza restaurant where health inspectors found dead mice, rotting food and rubber gloves littered with droppings has been ordered to pay almost £30,000 and banned from managing a food business.

A court heard that Sher Shah, the director of Francos Pizza in Walthamstow, north London, continued to operate the business and opened a Pizza GoGo franchise in the space next door, despite having failed to appear in court on three occasions and officially dissolved the original business.

Health inspectors made their alarming discoveries during a visit to Francos Pizza in April 2018 and found few improvements on a second visit in September the same year.

Shah was found guilty of five charges stemming from the 2018 inspections at Thames Magistrates’ Court last month and told to pay almost £30,000 as well as being served with a Hygiene Prohibition Order that prevents him from managing a food service, until further direction from a court.

He was convicted of two counts of failing to ensure the premises were kept in clean condition and good repair in April and September 2018. Two counts of failing to put adequate procedures in place to control pests in both April and September 2018. One count of failing to provide adequate provisions for the storage and disposal of food waste in April 2018.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, deputy leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: “This ruling demonstrates the magistrate’s zero tolerance towards anyone attempting to evade justice.

“That Mr Shah subsequently opened a second pizzeria next door to the first speaks to his brazen disregard for the health and safety of his customers. It’s not often we see hygiene breaches as egregious as this and it’s satisfying to know we played our part as a local authority in removing this risk to the public.”