The director and a manager of Top UKs Fried Chicken Halal Ltd were ordered to pay a combined sum of more than £7,000, following a hearing at Dudley Magistrates Court last week.
Dudley Council’s environmental health team inspected the Dudley town centre premises, located on 220 Wolverhampton Street, in June 2024 and identified serious gas safety and food hygiene breaches.
Officers conducted a routine food hygiene inspection of the premises and discovered that the premises had switched from natural gas to a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply.
No installation certificates were available, and although the system was only temporary, the manager was unable to demonstrate a safe installation and agreed to stop using the LPG immediately, resulting a voluntary three-day closure.
During the visit, officers also noted poor standards of cleaning and advised that a deep clean be undertaken prior to reopening. A follow‑up visit five days later revealed that conditions had not improved, and evidence of a cockroach infestation, with live and dead insects at various stages of development, was present throughout the premises.
In addition to the infestation, officers identified multiple breaches of food hygiene legislation, including a failure to implement a food safety management system, inadequate cleaning and maintenance, a lack of appropriate pest control arrangements and food left exposed to contamination.
It was also noted there were wash‑hand basins without soap or hygienic drying materials, poorly cleaned equipment, damaged wall surfaces and that food handlers who had not received appropriate training.
Due to the imminent risk to public health, officers exercised emergency powers to formally close the premises. The business remained closed for four weeks, while pest eradication and remedial works were completed.
At Dudley Magistrates’ Court, the company’s director, Karokh Mohammad Zadeh, was fined £902 for the gas safety offences and £601 for food hygiene offences. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £601.20 and £1394.50 costs.
Manager Idris Abubakar Mohammad was fined £973 for the gas offences and £649 for the food hygiene offences, with a victim surcharge of £648.80 and £1,394.50 costs. No separate penalty was imposed on the limited company, Top UKs Fried Chicken Halal Ltd.
Councillor Phil Atkins, cabinet member for development and regulation, said: “We will never hesitate to act against businesses who disregard their legal responsibilities, and the outcome of this case serves as a clear reminder to all food businesses.
“Poor cleanliness, a cockroach infestation, and poor gas safety standards meant this business posed a significant risk to public health.
“Our environmental health officers acted swiftly and decisively to protect the public, and I commend their diligent work.”
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