Restaurant fined for cockroach infestation

An African restaurant in Wolverhampton has been fined almost £12,000 after a cockroach infestation was found, with the pests contaminating surfaces and equipment.

Acting on a complaint, city council environmental health officers visited Millions Kitchen in Showell Road in August 2023 and discovered the infestation.

Directors Chris Onohwano Igomuaye and Sikiru Owolewa and their firm pleaded guilty to breaching food hygiene law at Dudley Magistrates Court on Friday.

The business was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,554 and a victim surcharge of £1,600.

Environmental health officers found food preparation surfaces, equipment and food packaging were all contaminated, the council said.

A food safety inspection a month later gave the venue 4 out of 5, with individual ratings of "very good" or "satisfactory"

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: "Cockroach infestations indicate a dreadful level of food hygiene which can cause significant illness.

"The business and directors were knowingly putting their customers at risk and I'm pleased that the court recognised the severity of the offences committed.

"The council works very hard to protect city residents and visitors from the sort of risks that were found in The Millions Kitchen and I hope other businesses take note of the fact that we take food hygiene very seriously in Wolverhampton."

Igomuaye and Owolewa were each fined £270, ordered to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £108.

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