A TAKEAWAY owner with a history of poor food hygiene has been prosecuted over the grimy state of his Darlington eatery.

Hui Cong Chen was charged with two counts of contravening food safety regulations relating to his New Yummy Yummy Chinese takeaway following an inspection last summer.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday that Darlington Borough Council’s environmental health officer Brian Whelan was ‘immediately concerned’ by the dirty state of the Whessoe Road takeaway when he visited in July.

Prosecuting for the council, Amy Wennington said: “Mr Whelan noted that the premises itself and the equipment within the premises were both in a dirty state and that the only handwash basin was obstructed and not in use.”

The Northern Echo:

Dirty, rusty microwave

Ms Wennington said the takeaway was subsequently given a food hygiene rating of one and Mr Chen was ordered to clean it up.

The court heard that Mr Chen’s business had previously been given a zero hygiene rating in 2017 and this had only improved to a two rating the following year.

The Northern Echo:

The New Yummy Yummy on Whessoe Road Picture: Google

Speaking via an interpretor, Mr Chen, 36, said that drain had been broken at the time of the inspection and he has since cleaned up the premises and repainted the kitchen.

He pleaded guilty to the hygiene offences and was ordered to pay £601 in court fines and charges.