Big court bill for Rawmarsh baker who kept food in "filthy containers"

Bekir Cinar was brought before magistrates to face six food hygiene charges in relation to Levertons in Rawmarsh.

The 55-year-old admitted all counts and was ordered to pay £2,868 in costs and £121 victim surcharge.

He admitted failing to ensure the premises in Kilnhurst Road - specifically including the ceiling and floor - were kept clean and well-maintained.

Cinar also failed to ensure baking trays, refrigerators and other equipment was kept clean and disinfected and that food was protected against contamination in relation to raw meats being stored above items that were ready to eat.

He was prosecuted under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations of 2013.

Rotherham Council, which brought the prosecution before Sheffield Magistrates Court in November, had imposed a hygiene emergency prohibition notice on Rawmarsh-based Levertons Bakers and Confectioners last January.

A council spokeswoman said: "The council found serious accumulations of filth and black mould present throughout the areas where food was prepared and stored.

"There was a pool of stagnant foul smelling water next to stored bakery ingredients.

"Food and ingredients were being stored uncovered, in filthy containers, with uncooked meat stored alongside other foods causing risk of contamination."

The council’s assistant director of community safety and street scene, Tom Smith, said: “This business was in an appalling condition.

"Food business operators have a legal duty to keep their premises hygienic and any failure to do so will not be tolerated.”

Levertons had been sold to a new owner by long-standing proprietor Adrian Leverton two years earlier.