An Oldham butcher whose shop had no hot water and a filthy toilet without a wash basin has been fined more than £700 after failing to heed a warning to clean up his act. John Bayman pleaded guilty to eight food hygiene offences with his premises described as "dirty and potentially unhealthy" by council officials, the Manchester Evening News reported.
His butcher's shop, called Baymans, on Ashton Road in the Lancashire town's suburb of Hathershaw, was originally visited by environmental health officers in October 2021 and found the building and equipment inside in a poor state of repair. Despite Mr Bayman being given a chance to bring his shop up to acceptable hygienic standards, a follow-up visit confirmed nothing had changed.
It led to the 55-year-old being given a two-year conditional discharge at Tameside Magistrates' Court. He was also ordered to pay £700 in costs and a £32 victim surcharge. Councillor Hannah Roberts, a cabinet member for neighbourhoods at Oldham council, said: "The conditions our officers found were dirty and potentially unhealthy. Food businesses must be clean and stick to food hygiene laws.
"As this prosecution shows we’ll take action against the ones that don’t. If you are a business owner and need advice then get in touch so our officers can help. If residents know of any food premises that are dirty and unclean, please report them to us."
The council advised all food businesses to employ professional pest control companies to ensure workplaces adhered to the hygiene laws.
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