Owners of cockroach-infested takeaway in Luton fined £13k with suspended sentence for ex-director

The shocking standards at Dial-A-Kebab on 29 New Bedford Road were uncovered during a routine inspection by a food safety officer in September 2018 and the business was closed immediately using emergency prohibition powers.

Dial-A-Kebab was inspected again in January 2019 where poor standards were still apparent, including filthy, damaged equipment and poor structural repair.

The business was still found to be infested with cockroaches and was ordered to close.

Restaurant owners Y&A Brothers Ltd and its former company director Faisal Zaieb, 31, of Saxon Road, both pleaded guilty to food hygiene offences.

Y&A Brothers Ltd was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay additional costs of £1,060 at Luton Magistrates court last December.

Faisal Zaieb was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Friday, January 24, to 9 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months along with 150 hours unpaid work.

Zaieb was also ordered to pay costs of £1,500.

A third inspection of Dial-A-Kebab in November 2019 found that hygiene and safety standards had risen significantly and the business was given a three star rating for food hygiene.

Laura Church, Corporate Director for Place and Infrastructure, said "It is essential that food business owners take their responsibilities seriously when operating a food business and they must be directly involved with that business to ensure the safety of members of the public. We also expect good standards of cleanliness and maintenance of equipment and surfaces, with a good finish to walls, floors and ceilings.

“All food businesses must have permanent, ongoing and adequate procedures in place to monitor and control pests and should use reputable pest controllers that are registered with the British Pest Control Association or The National Pest Technical Association.

"Alternatively, businesses can obtain advice and guidance and use the council’s own pest control traded service by contacting 01582 546814 or emailing [email protected]

"We will not hesitate to take action where businesses fail to put the safety of the public first.”

Where a food business is found to have pest activity, it faces emergency closure and prosecution.

Customers can view the food ratings of local establishments by visiting https://ratings.food.gov.uk/.