THE former director of a town centre restaurant has been ordered to pay fines and costs totalling more than £7,000 for food hygiene failings after cockroach activity was found during a routine inspection of the premises by Warrington Borough Council.
The inspection was prompted by a complaint of alleged food poisoning.
Sajjadur Aziz Malik pleaded guilty at Warrington Magistrates Court to 11 offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.
He was fined £2,769 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £1,108 and costs of £3,739 – a total of £7,616.
At the time of the offences, Malik was the director of Samco Spice Ltd, trading as The Cottage, in Church Street, Warrington.
The business subsequently ceased trading and was later taken over by new, unrelated owners.
The court was told the borough council’s Business Compliance Team visited Samco Spice Ltd.
During the visit, officers discovered very poor standards of food safety and hygiene, including inadequate cleaning, insufficient staff training, and a lack of effective food safety management systems. An imminent risk to public health was identified due to cockroach activity throughout the premises, including the kitchen and food storage areas. As a result, the premises closed voluntarily on the same day.
But further inspections in August 2024 confirmed that cockroach activity was ongoing.
The business subsequently ceased trading and was later taken over by new, unrelated owners. During the course of the investigation, Malik left the country but later returned.
The company, Samco Spice Ltd, received a separate nominal fine of £300 and a £120 victim surcharge.
After the hearing, Cllr John Kerr Brown, the council cabinet member for Housing Services and Licensing, said: “This case highlights the seriousness with which we take food safety in Warrington.
“The conditions found at these premises posed a clear and unacceptable risk to public health. I’d like to thank our Business Compliance Team for their thorough work in protecting residents and ensuring that businesses meet their legal responsibilities. Food safety standards are not optional, and this outcome sends a strong message that breaches will be dealt with robustly.”
