Shoreham restaurant's £5,000 fine

Adur District Council said it was forced to take legal action against The Curry Place in Shoreham High Street, because it had become a health hazard.

Restaurant owner Amin Ullah pleaded guilty to seven food hygiene offences when he appeared at Worthing Magistrates' Court last Wednesday.

He was ordered to pay a total of 5,080.10 in fines within 14 days.

The offences included failure to keep the kitchen clean and leaving high risk foods out at dangerous temperatures putting the public in danger of food poisoning.

The court heard that Ullah had been warned about his poor food hygiene practices in 2005.

He was given a chance by Adur council to have a free coaching session on how to produce a documented food safety system, but he left early to have a haircut.

Further visits revealed no improvements.

The court heard that Adur council's environmental health officer Paula Mitton visited the restaurant on several occasions.

She said: "I concluded that food safety was not taken seriously at this establishment."

After the case, Adur council stated it will continue to keep a close eye on developments and has already noted some improvements at the premises.

For more on this story, see the Shoreham Herald.