A FAST food restaurant in Brierley Hill which broke a dozen hygiene and health regulations cost its former owner almost £6,000.

Tahar Mohammed, aged 40, who was proprietor of Kings Fast Food, High Street, in May 2007, admitted a string of offences under food hygiene and health and safety legislation.

On Thursday September 4, Dudley Magistrates heard Dudley Council’s environmental health officers took action after a routine food inspection of the premises in May 2007.

Food hygiene offences included cleaning and structural matters, poor storage of waste, damaged equipment, unsatisfactory personal hygiene standards and failure to protect food from contamination.

A Prohibition Notice was also served under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, in respect of dangerous electrical equipment.

Mohammed, of Dorothy Street, Walsall, who is no longer involved in the food industry, was fined £100 for each of the 12 offences and asked to cover the council’s costs of £4,691.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley cabinet member for the environment and culture, said: “Food businesses have a legal duty to ensure they maintain their premises in good condition and comply with food and health and safety legislation at all times.

“Just because a business owner puts right failures to comply with legislation that have been pointed out to them by council officers does not mean they will not be prosecuted for the offences originally identified.

“Dudley Council will not hesitate to take legal action where business proprietors are failing to meet their legal responsibilities.”