Business owner fined thousands after "major rat infestation" at Worcestershire food warehouse

Darren Lee Acton, 51, has pleaded guilty to a series of food safety offences at Mayfair Holdings after a council-led sting.

Environmental health officers found what they call "serious rat infestation" including droppings, nesting material and gnawed packaging throughout the company's warehouse on the Hartlebury Trading Estate.

Worcestershire Regulatory Services said the conditions were an "imminent risk to public health" and had the premises immediately closed so the infestation could be cleared.

Officers also found the firm had failed to register as a 'food business', nor had it protected the food against contamination or put 'adequate measures in place' to control pests.

Some of these images show the poor state of the warehouse when officers paid them a visit.

Wychavon District Council decided to prosecute Acton, leading to him pleading guilty to all three food safety offences.

He was ordered to pay £4,987 in fines and costs plus a victim surcharge of £150 after his guilty pleas at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Helen Cameron, from Worcestershire Regulatory Services, said: "We are very pleased with the outcome of this prosecution as it shows how seriously we take the issues of food safety and public health.

"We hope it will also serve as a reminder to people that businesses need to follow the proper procedures when it comes to registering a food business and that they must always ensure that food is properly stored and safe from contamination and pests."

The business has since cleared the rat infestation, with an emergency Hygiene Prohibition Order lifted within a month of the investigation.

The sting took place in June last year, but Acton did not appear before magistrates until last month.

The Worcester News has contacted Mayfair Holdings, which did not want to comment yesterday.