Droppings, strong smell of urine and nibbled bags of peanuts and sugar: £26,000 bill for Smethwick shop after mice infestation found by inspectors

PAK Supermarket at The Retail Park, Smethwick, has a turnover of about £1 million a year – but it was infested by rodents, Sandwell Council officers found.

Its three directors pleaded guilty to a series of environmental health breaches at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court and have been issued with hefty fines.

Councillor Preet Gill, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for public health and protection, said: "The council takes food safety and hygiene very seriously. When there are failures we will take action to protect public health and we welcome the sentences for these offences."

Mr Mark Jackson, prosecuting on behalf of the council, told the court how environmental health officers from the council visited the supermarket on November 18, 2015, following a report from a member of the public who had spotted mice on several occasions.

During the inspection, officers saw widespread mice droppings including on floors, shelves, next to food products and among food debris. They also found shredded paper, a nibbled bag of peanuts, a nibbled bag of sugar, a strong smell of mouse urine by the chocolate display and mouse smear marks in the mezzanine warehouse area.

The business voluntarily closed after the inspection. The secretary of PAK Supermarket, Shane Khattak, who defended the store and its three directors in court, said: "The businesses has been operating for years and this is the first and last issue like this. It is deeply embarrassing."

The supermarket and its three directors all pleaded guilty to five offences of failing to comply with food safety regulations.

The shop was fined £3,000 per offence, as well as being ordered to pay £2,000 costs and a £120 victim surcharge. Akib Rahman, 24, from Brockhurst Road, Hodge Hill Birmingham, is listed as the operator of the supermarket.

He was fined £480 per offence, leading to a total fine of £2,400. He also had to pay costs of £2,000 and a £120 surcharge.

Fareeda Begum, 48, from Brockhurst Road, Hodge Hill, Birmingham, a director, was fined £400 for each offence, totalling £2,000. She was also ordered to pay costs of £2,000 and a surcharge of £120.

Fellow director Mohammed Khadam, 45, from Brockhurst Road, Hodge Hill, Birmingham, was fined £90 per offence, totalling £450. He was also ordered to pay £400 costs and a £120 surcharge. Including costs and surcharges, the total bill is£26,630.