Burger bar boss sentenced for rats at premises

A former director of a takeaway has been banned from running another food business after being closed down twice due to rat activity at her premises.

Hygiene inspectors found serious health breaches at Burger 'N' Grill in Brierley Hill in August 2022 and in February 2023 and enforced emergency powers to temporarily shut it down.

The conditions presented an imminent risk to consumers' health due to rat activity, Dudley Council said.

Kuljit Bains, from Wolverhampton, admitted 12 food hygiene offences and was given a 33-week sentence suspended for 18 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

A photo released by the council showed litter left strewn about on the floor outside the food outlet beside a waste bin.

The 47-year-old of Ivy House Lane, Coseley, was the sole director of the firm and pleaded guilty to the offences during a hearing at Walsall Magistrates in September, the council said.

The case was then referred to the crown court for sentencing because of the seriousness of the offences, the authority added.

Councillor James Clinton, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "I am pleased to hear the outcome of this legal case, which should serve as a reminder to anyone who runs food premises that they must comply with the standards expected.

"Our environmental health officers found serious breaches of legislation on visits to Burger 'N' Grill in August 2022 and again in February 2023.

"On both occasions we forced the takeaway to temporarily shut, using emergency powers, as the conditions presented an imminent risk to consumers' health due to rat activity."

Ms Bains was prohibited from participating in the management of any food business for a minimum of 18 months after an application was submitted by the council.

The premises have since ceased trading and the limited company has been dissolved, the council said.

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