A Brighton takeaway was so badly infested with mice that droppings were found in its food preparation areas, foil containers and cutlery boxes.
A rubbish bag containing old newspapers had been gnawed and shredded by mice and the premises were found to be inadequately pest-proofed.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court, Shah Mizan Chowdhury, the manager of Fusion in St James’s Street, was landed a bill of nearly £5,000 for breaking food hygiene laws.
Mr Chowdhury, of The Avenue in Bevendean, admitted five food hygiene offences when he was taken to court by Brighton and Hove City Council.
He was fined £413 for each charge – £2,065 in total – and he was ordered to pay £2,887 legal costs.
Len Batten, prosecuting, told the court that environmental health officers had been shocked by the state of the fast food outlet.
They had visited on Friday 19 February after a complaint.
During their visit, officers found mouse droppings throughout the premises including food preparation areas, inside foil containers used for takeaway food and in a box of open cutlery.
When the officers made the management of the business aware of the level of the problem they agreed to close to customers.
Pest control technicians were brought in to deal with the mice infestation and the premises were cleaned and repaired.
Environmental health officers revisited Fusion on Friday 26 February and allowed the business to re-open.
Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, the cabinet member for environment, said: “This was an appalling breach of the food hygiene regulations.
“Fortunately cases as bad as this are rare.
“But the public can rest assured that public safety is a priority for the council.
“We will act swiftly to close down any food outlets which could be putting residents’ health at risk.”
