A FORMER Darlington takeaway operator narrowly avoided prison after pleading guilty to six specimen food hygiene offences.

Venugopal Reddy Arumalla, who used to run Papa Joe’s, in Yarm Road, Darlington, appeared at Darlington Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The offences arose following an inspection by an environmental health officer from Darlington Borough Council on 10 November 2015.

A total of 21 contraventions of food hygiene legislation were found during the visit.

The Northern Echo:

Darlington takeaway owner avoids jail after admitting hygiene offences

Since the inspection, Papa Joe's has now been taken over by a new owner and has a maximum five star hygiene award issued by the Foods Standards Agency.

Magistrates ordered Mr Arumalla to carry out 300 hours of community work and to pay prosecution costs totalling £562, plus a victim surcharge of £60.

Bill Westland, the council’s assistant director regulatory services, said: “It is very important that businesses comply with food hygiene legislation. The Council’s food enforcement officers will always take action to protect the health of the public.

“The vast majority of catering premises in Darlington demonstrate compliance with food hygiene legislation and respond positively to advice they are given. In this case, the proprietor had failed to maintain standards.

“The public have access to the food hygiene rating of all food premises in Darlington from the Council website. Those premises rated 5 have the best rating.”

Magistrates did not agree with the submission made on Mr Aramulla’s behalf that the offences fell within a low culpability category because of a low risk of harm to the public.

The case was temporarily stood down while Probation Service officials compiled a pre-sentence report.

Magistrates decided these were very serious charges and said Mr Arumalla had avoided prison ‘by a hair’s breadth’ due to his early guilty plea.

Councillor Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said: “I hope this prosecution has the dual benefit of acting as a warning to takeaway owners that action will be taken against those with poor hygiene practices, while also reassuring the public that the Council takes food safety very seriously.”