Norfolk pub fined for food hygiene breaches

A Norfolk licensee has pleaded guilty to eight counts of breaching food hygiene regulations.

Adrian Illingworth, lessee of the Dog Inn, Ludham, told thepublican.com ​he was disappointed that the prosecution had been brought even though he had fully implemented a list of remedial actions asked for by an environmental health officer (EHO).

"The visit was in May last year and I'd carried out all the actions they'd asked for - something that was acknowledged in court. It wasn't until February I learnt I was being prosecuted."

Mr Illingworth was fined £350 for each offence by Cromer magistrates' court, a total of £2,800. He was also ordered to pay £500 costs.

The court heard that breaches found at the pub during an inspection by an environmental health officer from North Norfolk District Council last May included cobwebs in a kitchen sink, and blood stains and stagnant water in and around fridges.

The magistrates heard that the pub had initially passed food safety inspections after Mr iIllingworth bought the pub in June 2002, but that kitchen standards later fell.

Parminder Ubhi, prosecuting for the district council, said: "There was no formal safety system in place at the premises to ensure the safety of food."

The court was told that after the inspection Mr Illingworth had invested in rectifying all the faults found by the EHO. Magistrates also heard that he had borrowed to keep the business afloat, and is in debt to banks and a utility company.

He has now agreed terms with a potential buyer for the Wellington Pub Company free-of-tie lease. In court, Alistair Taunton, speaking in mitigation, said: "The sale should finally take this millstone from around his neck."

Chris Cawley, environmental health manager for North Norfolk, said, "We consider each case on its own merits, and in this instance we felt the breaches we found were serious enough to warrant bringing a prosecution."