Shop owner ordered to pay more than £3k for food hygiene offences

The owner of a Pensnett convenience store has been ordered to pay more than £3,300 after pleading guilty to food hygiene offences following a prosecution by Dudley Council.

On 23 September 2026, Mr Sivanandan Ampalam appeared before Dudley Magistrates' Court, where he pleaded guilty to five food hygiene offences relating to Shop Locally, 35 Church Street, Pensnett, Brierley Hill, DY5 4HB.

Councillor Daniel Bevan, cabinet member for development and regulation, said:

“Food businesses have a legal responsibility to maintain high standards of hygiene and food safety. Where serious failings are identified, we will take appropriate enforcement action to protect the public. I would like to thank our Environmental Health officers for their work in this case, and our Legal Services team for helping secure this successful prosecution.”

The prosecution followed action by Dudley Council's Environmental Health team after significant food hygiene contraventions were identified at the premises.

The court heard that the food business operator had failed to put in place, implement and maintain food safety management procedures based on the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). The business also failed to ensure adequate procedures were in place to control pests.

Further offences included failing to ensure the layout, design and condition of the premises permitted good food hygiene practices and adequate pest control, failing to keep the premises clean and maintained in good repair, and failing to ensure food handlers were appropriately supervised, instructed or trained in food hygiene matters relevant to their work activities.

The court was told that the premises were closed by Dudley Council's Environmental Health team on 3 March 2025 after officers identified evidence of mouse activity within the business.

Mr Ampalam pleaded guilty to all offences. The court imposed a fine of £1,280, a victim surcharge of £512, and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £1,596.64, bringing the total financial penalty to £3,388.64.