Takeaway owner banned after council action
A takeaway owner who admitted a series of hygiene offences has been banned from running a food business after action by St Albans City and District Council
Laxmi Reddy was served with the prohibition order by Magistrates after pleading guilty to five offences.
He was the sole director of Parizon Limited which traded as Pizza Go Go in London Road, St Albans, until last October.
Following an inspection by officers from the Council in September last year, he was charged with three offences under Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations. These were:
• Failure to comply with a demand to put in place a suitable food safety management system;
• Failure to ensure that food handlers were supervised and trained in hygiene requirements; and
• Failure to keep equipment, namely a counter chiller, in good condition to minimise risk of contamination.
Mr Reddy was also charged with two offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act:
• Failure to ensure a safe electrical system, due to loose and damaged sockets; and
• Failure to ensure a dough machine was safely maintained.
At the hearing, at St Albans’ Magistrates’ Court on 13 August, the Council applied for a prohibition order to be placed on Mr Reddy. This was to prevent him being involved in the running of a food business.
A solicitor for Mr Reddy, who admitted the offences at an earlier hearing, opposed the request.
Magistrates granted the order and also sentenced Mr Reddy to 120 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months.
He was told to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and £2,000 towards the Council’s costs at the rate of £100 a month.
Mr Reddy cannot apply to have the prohibition order lifted for at least six months. He will then have to show he has undergone suitable training and can be considered an appropriate person to manage a food business.
Parizon ceased trading as Pizza Go Go in October last year with the St Albans branch now under new management.
In August last year, Mr Reddy’s company Parizon was convicted of 16 offences under food hygiene regulations and health and safety laws
The company on that occasion was fined a total sum of £4,000, ordered to pay costs of £5,000 and pay a victim surcharge of £35.
Councillor Julian Daly, Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning & Conservation, St Albans City and District Council said: “This was a successful prosecution with a significant result.
“The prohibition order imposed on Mr Reddy shows that the Council will take action against food businesses that do not meet the required standards.
“We will not tolerate any business that does not perform its hygiene and safety duties as well as it should do.
“People should keep a look out for the one to five star hygiene rating.”
Councillor contact:
Councillor Julian Daly, Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning & Conservation, St Albans City and District Council, Tel: 01582 715645, 07775 657200; Email: cllr.j.daly@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City District Council
Tel: 01727 296130
E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk
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