Latest News - Prosecutions

Knowsley Council has successfully prosecuted Mr Masoud Atbaiga, Director of Santos Pizzeria Limited in Prescot, for failing to ensure the company complied with food hygiene regulations, following a routine inspection that uncovered severe health risks at the food business.

Mr Masoud Atbaiga appeared before Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates’ Court on 5 June 2025, where he and Santos Pizzeria Limited pleaded guilty to seven charges under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013. The charges stemmed from a routine food hygiene  inspection carried out by Environmental Health Officers on 11 March 2024.

Inspectors found clear evidence of rodent activity in several areas of the premises, including food preparation and storage areas, as well as locations containing open food containers posing a serious risk to public health.

The owner of the takeaway voluntarily agreed to close the shop until officers were satisfied that it no longer posed an imminent risk to health.

The food business reopened on Monday 18 March 2024 following a visit from officers which confirmed that there was no further immediate risks to health.

An investigation by Environmental Health Officers revealed that insufficient measures had been taken to control pests and that the building had not been properly maintained to prevent rodents from entering the premises. Open food containers were stored in areas where rat activity was present, and both equipment and parts of the structure were dirty and in disrepair.

Knowsley Council prosecuted the Director of the company for his neglect in failing to ensure that the company followed food hygiene regulations despite several warnings from Environmental Health.

Mr Masoud Atbaiga and of Santos Pizzeria Limited appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on 20 November 2025 for sentencing. Mr Atbaiga and was ordered to pay £1200 in fines, costs and fees, and the company was ordered to pay £6,500 for the same.

The Court noted that there had been previous advice offered by the Council in respect of the premises, and although some attempts had been made to ensure compliance with hygiene standards, these were inconsistent and problems had persisted over a period of time.

However, it also recognised that significant investment and improvements had been made by Mr Atbaiga to the business, resulting in the maximum 5 star food hygiene rating being awarded in February 2025.

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