Papa John's Masshouse Plaza branch in Birmingham fined over mice infestation

The operator of a Papa John's in Birmingham has been fined after it was shut down for three days over a mice infestation. A customer reported the takeaway at Masshouse Plaza in the city centre to Birmingham City Council after seeing a mouse running around in the kitchen in April last year.

The authority carried out an inspection and found droppings throughout the premises. The manager was handed a schedule of works which were completed and it was allowed to re-open.

Operators Birmingham Central Ventures admitted three offences of contravening a provision of the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations. The business was fined £2,000 as well as ordered to pay £2,037 in costs and an £800 victim surcharge at Birmingham Magistrates' Court yesterday, Thursday, June 27.

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Prosecutor Jayne Skeates said: "On April 12 (last year) the environmental health department at Birmingham City Council received a complaint from a member of the public reporting a mouse running in the kitchen of Papa John's at Masshouse Plaza, Masshouse Lane.

"Environmental health officer Karen Boyal visited the property on April 14 with a vet. When they arrived the front door was open and the lights were on. They introduced themselves to the manager and explained the purpose of the visit was to investigate a complaint involving the sighting of a mouse and they were carrying out a routine food hygiene inspection.

"Evidence of mouse activity was found throughout the premises. It was dirty and food was exposed to the risk of contamination."

Ms Skeates presented a bundle of photographs showing droppings in various places including on a pizza dough tray, while one shelf was stained with mouse urine. A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order (HEPO) notice was issued, shutting down the takeaway.

Ms Skeates confirmed a schedule of required works had been completed by April 17 last year and the Papa John's was allowed to re-open. It was later awarded a maximum hygiene rating of five - 'Very Good'.

Neil Davis, defending, said: "In April last year works were being carried out on a neighbouring property and as a result of that you have heard evidence of gaps between the properties. Our submission is that it was those gaps together with problems with the bins that caused this infestation of mice. It was a temporary infestation."

Mr Davis further argued the bins behind the property were the responsibility of the building manager and not the takeaway. He added that staff at the business had been retrained and now a third party company along with a regional operational manager regularly inspected the premises.

Amit Abhol, aged 45, and the sole director of Birmingham Central Ventures told the court he had travelled from Belfast to attend the hearing. Addressing him directly the chair of the bench said: "You have taken steps to try and deal with it, for example the independent review is very good. You have cooperated with people and shown yourself to be accepting responsibility and put things right. That's to your credit."