Jail warning for owner of mice-infested Chinese restaurant » Local Government » 24dash.com

The proprietor of a mice-infested Chinatown restaurant was today handed a suspended jail sentence after inspectors discovered appalling hygiene conditions twice in eight months.

Hie Jie Siquang Wu, 36, was warned he could be imprisoned if he fails to bring his premises in London's Shaftesbury Avenue up to scratch.

Wu, of Walworth, south London, had pleaded guilty to seven hygiene offences following an inspection at his Rong Cheng restaurant.

Judge Michael Birnbaum QC gave him a four-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, at a hearing today at Southwark Crown Court.

Wu was also ordered to do 40 hours of unpaid community work over the next three months.

Westminster City Council decided to prosecute following a visit in November 2005 in which they discovered mouse droppings in the kitchen and storage areas and on top of food containers as well as black mould in the sink.

The fridge was "filthy with food debris, blood residue and raw meat residue" according to the charges filed by the council.

In addition, raw and bloody pigs trotters were found stored on top of partially cooked noodles.

Immediately after the check inspectors fixed an emergency prohibition notice to the door, but were surprised to find staff eating in the restaurant in breach of the order the next day.

In March that year, a mouse nest and droppings as well as an infestation of cockroaches had been found in the restaurant, for which Wu was later fined ?15,000.

The judge today told him: "The fact that this was a repeated offence makes it particularly serious."

But he added: "You were a man who when you started up as a restaurant proprietor had very little idea of what were the requirements of hygiene, but you have since then learnt a great deal."

The judge warned that the restaurant, which has reopened since the inspections, was likely to be closed down again unless Wu carried out further measures which had been called for by the local authority.

Afterwards, a spokeswoman for Westminster City Council warned that unless improvements were made within four weeks, further action was likely which could eventually lead to another prosecution.

Safia Khokhar, Westminster City Council environmental health officer, said that although it was a serious case, premises such as Rong Cheng "represent the minority of food businesses in Westminster".

"The operator of this restaurant has declined previous offers for Westminster Council to provide training and support in food hygiene that is offered through the many proactive initiatives we run to improve food safety," she added.

"We hope this successful prosecution will prompt other businesses to work closely with Westminster Council to improve compliance with food safety regulations."

Copyright Press Association 2007