Serious failings at "filthy" Wellingborough catering firm

Conditions at a Wellingborough catering firm were so filthy its owner agreed to voluntarily close it down.

Rohit Patel was prosecuted after environmental health inspectors found mould, widespread dirt, dripping grease and no hot water at R Caterers in Mill Road.

The 51-year-old faced up to nine months in prison after admitting six food safety contraventions - but was instead handed unpaid work at Northampton Crown Court today (Tuesday).

The court heard R Caterers, which had been in operation since 2009, supplied hot food for members of the local Hindu community by sending out about 20 meals a day for the elderly as a meals on wheels service. It also catered for weddings and funerals with a diary suggesting they had catered for up to 500 people at one event.

But in July 2018 Wellingborough Council received a call from a concerned member of the public because food equipment had been left outside.

Health protection officer Tony Powell made an unannounced visit and found the equipment which Patel said it had been washed and was left outside to dry. When Mr Powell inspected the premises he saw food being prepared for a wedding the following day - but found the kitchen in an extremely poor condition.

Patel, of Windermere Drive, was sent a letter outlining action he had to take but when Mr Powell and another officer visited again in December it hadn't been done.

Staff were preparing food for a funeral with no running hot water in the kitchen or toilet, widespread dirt in food storage areas, black mould, food stored under dirty equipment, food in direct contact with cleaning chemicals, a hole in the floor, an extractor fan 'dripping' with grease and grease on the walls.

Prosecuting, Alexander Barbour said: "This is a case, the prosecution say, where there has been wilful blindness.

"The visit in July set out processes which needed to be done.

"It simply was not acted on."

Conditions were so bad officers believed there was an imminent health risk to the public and Patel agreed to voluntarily close the firm down.

He was interviewed under caution and accepted the cleanliness fell below the required standard.

Thankfully, there is no suggestion anyone was harmed because of the poor food hygiene at R Caterers.

The court heard Patel was in financial difficulties and struggling after his business partner left. He had made enquiries about making the required improvements but couldn't afford the £900 he was quoted.

Mitigating, Micaila Williams said: "This was spare money that Mr Patel simply didn't have at the time."

Wellingborough Council has since allowed the firm to re-open after a complete £8,000 kitchen refit.

Ms Williams added: "Mr Patel has done all he can so that moving forward he can comply with all of the requirements."

Judge Rebecca Crane described the premises as "filthy throughout".

She said: "There was wilful blindness to what must have been an obvious risk, given the state of the premises."

Patel was sentenced to a community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and must pay £1,500 towards court costs.

Leader of Wellingborough Council, Cllr Martin Griffiths, said: “Officers found appalling conditions when they inspected this catering business. There was no hot water to the premises and the whole place was filthy.

“We work informally with businesses where possible to make sure high standards are maintained. In this case we had visited the business on a number of occasions, but when considerable failings are found that significantly risk public health, we won’t hesitate to take enforcement action.

“These offences were particularly serious. The public’s safety is a key priority and we will do whatever is necessary to make sure people have peace of mind when eating food from a registered food business within the borough.”