THE owner of the Purple Pig in Yarm has been fined thousands of pounds after admitting eight food hygiene offences.

But Som Emadi told Teesside Magistrates Court today (Tuesday, March 24) that he had been "naive" in trusting some of the managers he had employed.

He pleaded guilty to eight breaches of food hygiene legislation and was fined £2,400 and ordered to pay costs of £1,837 and a £120 victim surcharge.

Environmental health inspectors visited his Yarm High Street restaurant last August and found a number of breaches.

Michelle Stowe, prosecuting for Stockton Borough Council, said: "A visit was made to the Purple Pig on August 8 following a complaint from the member of the public following suspected food poisoning. There was no supply of hot running water.

"The equipment in the food service area was not being properly cleaned and the equipment was dirty and sticky to touch.

"The ice machine was dirty and cooked foods were found at room temperature very close to chopping boards for raw meat."

She said equipment, food preparation and fridges were not being adequately cleaned and disinfected as there was no suitable antibacterial cleaner within the premises.

A further visit on August 13 last year, at which samples were taken, found unacceptable levels of bacteria, the court heard.

And an advice visit on February 23 this year at the request of the restaurant manager found that some areas still needed to be addressed.

Mr Emadi, representing himself in court, said he had trusted staff to complete tasks but had taken on too much with supervising three other restaurants and was unable to oversee the day to day running of the Yarm premises.

He said: "I was being supplied with lies and my staff were more concerned with hiding the true state of my businesses."

He has now employed a leading environmental health company to assess how the business runs and ensure he complies with food hygiene regulations and said he expects the highest food hygiene rating next time he is inspected.

After the case, Mr Emadi said: "Today's magistrates judgement relating to a visit conducted not long after we opened our doors shows exactly how much work we had to do to overcome the structural limitations that we have at the Purple Pig in Yarm.

"We are expecting this year's reinspection from the council to be of the highest standard."