A BUSINESSMAN who sold food from a shop which was infested with mice has been convicted by magistrates of putting public health at risk.

Sheikh Mohamed Abdulrauf, owner of Bismillah Halal Fresh Meats in Gillingham Road, Gillingham, pleaded guilty to failing to have adequate procedures in place to control pests.

He also admitted failing to keep the premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition. A guilty plea was also entered for flouting EU health regulations on raw meat storage.

During a routine inspection of Mr Abdulrauf’s shop on February 21, Medway Council’s Environmental Health officers found fresh and old mouse droppings throughout the shop.

This included the floor and shelves where food was being sold, near food preparation areas and next to food scales. There was a strong smell of mouse urine in the shop.

A decomposed mouse in a trap was also discovered during the visit.

They discovered rotten meat past its sell-by-date stored next to food that was due to be sold. Officers found four legs of lamb that were soft to the touch and a chicken that was slimy and discoloured on a chiller shelf.

Although there was no suggestion that Mr Abdulrauf intended to sell the meat, the food was not labelled to warn others that the food was unfit for human consumption and was due to be destroyed.

The meat should also have been placed in a covered dustbin while awaiting disposal.

They also found food that had been defrosted and refrozen was on sale and a faulty freezer was not keeping food chilled at the right temparture.

During the investigation 46 bags of food that had been gnawed by mice were confiscated by Environmental Health officers and condemned by the court. The food had been on sale.

Magistrates were shown 34 photographs of evidence collected during the team’s visit.

Bench chairman Angela Howe said: “This is a very serious matter and public health is something that is very important to us.

“The council doesn’t think it was Mr Abdulrauf’s intention to sell the meat but it should have been labelled that it was unfit for human consumption.

"This meat could have been sold by accident and cross-contamination could have occurred.”

Medway magistrates ordered Mr Abdulrauf to pay Medway Council £2,000 and £2,690.80 costs.

Medway Council’s portfolio holder for Community Safety and Enforcement, Cllr Rehman Chishti, said: “The public's health is of utmost importance to us and we will take action against anyone who we feel is putting the public at risk.

“Our Environmental Health officers work incredibly hard and I applaud their efforts to bring this case to court.”