The owner of Ocean Queen takeaway has been prosecuted for fifteen counts of food hygiene breaches. Mr Tevfik Akyel, who owns Ocean Queen fish and chip shop in Morris Avenue, Billericay, was given 12 months custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, at the hearing at Basildon Crown Court today (Monday 30 April). He was also ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work. (Photos on Flickr)
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The case was first heard at Basildon Magistrate’s Court on 22 March 2012 when Mr Akyel pleaded guilty to fifteen food hygiene offences. The case was referred to Crown Court after the Magistrates felt their sentencing powers were insufficient to deal with the gravity of the offences.
Mr Akyel was taken to court after Basildon Council’s environmental health team found that there was no system for managing food safety at the premises, allowing the potential for dangerous contamination of food.
Food was also found being stored out of refrigeration and the hand washing facilities were inadequate. The structure was dirty and poorly maintained, as was much of the equipment within.
Environmental health officers also found that food handlers were not trained, the refuse was not managed, and the lighting was inadequate.
Advice and guidance about how to comply with food hygiene legislation was given to Mr Akyel, however it was continually ignored.
Phil Easteal, Basildon Council’s Manager of Environmental Health, said:
“Although prosecution is always the last resort for the council, we gave Mr Akyel a number of opportunities to comply with the law but he persistently failed to do so which gave us no choice but to take action.
“The severity of the 12 month sentence, albeit suspended, is very unusual for a food prosecution case but it does reflect the Judge’s concerns over the risk to public health.
“It is important that residents and visitors to the borough can choose and trust the places where food is prepared and available and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that food is prepared in clean, safe and hygienic conditions.”
Basildon Council participates in the Food Standards Agency’s Food Hygiene Rating Scheme allows consumers to find out ‘hygiene scores’ in the restaurants, takeaways or food shops in their neighbourhood.
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