Latest News - Prosecutions

The owners of a Great Yarmouth restaurant have been hit with fines and costs of almost £2,000 after admitting a raft of environmental health offences.

In a prosecution brought by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Bruce and Silvana Marques who owned and ran the To No Trabalho restaurant in Regent Street were convicted of six charges following an unannounced inspection last January.

During the inspection, the council's Environmental Health officers found a widespread, active and uncontrolled mouse infestation throughout the kitchen and bar area.

At a hearing on March 20, Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court was told the council's inspectors found mice droppings on a shelf where cutlery and condiments were stored, on the bar counter where food was prepared, in a food storage cupboard containing open packets of food and on top of bowls used for food.

The court heard there was broken glass, rotting food and other debris on the floor. Wall tiles, shelves and pipework in the kitchen were not kept clean, there was black mould around the washing up sink and tap, the extraction baffles above the hob, and the fryers and grill had a thick layer of grease which had gone black. An ice machine contained yellow slime.

Immediately after the inspection the council served a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice requiring the restaurant to close immediately. The business remained closed for 12 days until the mouse infestation was controlled and cleaning completed to remove the risk to public health.

After the venue re-opened, a further inspection was carried out by officers who found a marked improvement in hygiene standards. The restaurant subsequently received a Food Hygiene Rating of four. However, the business has since ceased trading.

At the court hearing, both defendants pleaded guilty to six charges in relation to failing to keep the premises clean and maintained in good repair; failing to protect food from contamination likely to render it unfit for human consumption, injurious to health or contaminated, due to an infestation of mice; failing to protect food wrapping materials from contamination; inadequate pest control; and failing to put in place procedures to manage food safety.

They were ordered to pay a fine, victim surcharge and costs totalling £1896.

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