A TAKEAWAY owner has been fined more than £1,000 in court after flies were found in the kitchen of his dirty premises.

A Darlington Council environmental officer visited Taste of India on Yarm Road, in Darlington, in August after a member of the public raised concerns over the cleanliness of the takeaway.

Prosecutor Amy Wennington told Darlington Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday, December 4) the officer immediately became concerned about the cleanliness of the kitchen, storeroom, cooking equipment and clothing worn by the staff.

Ms Wennington said: “There was a considerable amount of flies present in the kitchen, and windows and doors were open, allowing easy access for pests.”

She added: “On the next visit it was noted that conditions had improved to an acceptable level, but the fact remains that the conditions found on the first visit were well below the standards expected.”

The takeaway owner, 51-year-old Mahadubar Rahman, pleaded guilty to four food hygiene offences.

Representing himself in court, Rahman said at the time of the officer’s visit he had only recently taken over the business and afterwards he took two weeks off from another job to ensure that the premises were cleaned to the standards expected.

Ms Wennington confirmed that the latest visit on November 7 found the takeaway to be in a satisfactory condition.

Magistrates ordered Rahman to pay a total of £1,212 in fines and court charges and told him they hoped it was a lesson learnt.