Bakery Couple Fined for Hygiene Offences

THE former proprietors of the Wrights Bakery premises in Fleet Road, Fleet and Linkway Parade in Church Crookham have been ordered to pay a total of £1780 after pleading guilty to a series of hygiene related offences at Aldershot Magistrates Court.

Dariusz Borek (37) and his wife Danuta (44) were said now to be homeless and living in a car.

Dariusz was fined a total of £1000 with £250 costs contribution and a £15 victim surcharge.

He pleaded guilty to a total of ten offences covering both premises.

These included an accumulation of dirt  at Fleet Road, including cobwebs and both food and non-food debris; ineffectively cleaned equipment; a failure to provide hand washing facilities;  the discovery of mouldy cheese, raw egg mix and strawberries; and failing to comply with three hygiene improvement notices.

At the Linkway Parade premises Hart District Council environmental health inspectors found that the premises were not kept clean and in good repair having discovered gaps and holes that would let in rodents as well as mouse droppings; and discovered that there were no pest control procedures in place.

Danuta was fined a total of £500 with £15 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to the same offences.

Prosecuting for the council Mrs Louise Humphreys said a food hygiene inspection was carried out soon after the new business started and a number of food hazards were identified.

These hazards were not rectified by the proprietors despite numerous visits from environmental health inspectors. This ultimately resulted in hygiene improvement notices being served in relation to the Fleet Road premises and an emergency prohibition notice in relation to the Linkway premises.

Solicitor Mr Kevin Izod, defending said the couple bought the long established business in May 2008 and were assured there were no issues with the premises.

He said in all they had lost an estimated £20,000 in the business.

Hart’s Environmental and Licensing Manager, Mr Richard Haddad, commented:” Despite numerous visits by our officers offering advice and assistance the business operators failed to improve and we were left with no alternative other than formal action.

“We trust that this sends a message to other food businesses that maintaining standards of hygiene is not optional.

“Ensuring businesses provide food that is prepared safely and fit for consumption is paramount and I congratulate our officers on their efforts.”