The former operator of a takeaway pizza place infested with rats has been slapped with a bill of more than £15,000.

Health inspectors visited Papa John’s in Sittingbourne's West Street in February and found evidence of rats in an office and store room, the food preparation area, front service area and upstairs in the premises.

They also found there were inadequate procedures in place to control the pests, the structure of the building needed repairing to prevent them entering and the cleaning materials used were unsuitable to properly disinfect the areas.

The pizza parlour was closed with immediate effect due to the imminent risk to public health of a live rat infestation.

Given the serious nature, Swale council chose to prosecute the company who operated the franchise, Chatha Sittingbourne Ltd, and the named food business operator, Darbara Singh Chatha, for five breaches of food safety law.

On Friday, Chatha Sittingbourne Ltd was fined £2,400 per offence by Medway magistrates – a total of £12,000 – with costs awarded of £350 to the council and a £170 victim surcharge.

Darbara Singh Chatha was also fined £400 per offence – a total of £2,000 – with £350 costs awarded to the council and a £170 victim surcharge.

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Cllr Tim Valentine, cabinet member for environment at the council, said: “This result shows the seriousness of the offences and I am glad the courts have sent a strong signal that it is unacceptable to put the health of the public at risk.

“If you are running a food business you have a responsibility to make sure you are doing it safely and not putting people’s health at risk.

“Our officers are more than happy to offer help and guidance to make sure things are well managed but will also take the strongest action if necessary.”

Papa John’s was taken on by a new owner and was reopened after an overhaul of the shop.

Following an inspection in June, the pizza parlour was given a food hygiene rating of five out of five.

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