A court has fined a shopkeeper just under £30k after discovering his store was home to countless rats.
The independent convenience store in Swindon was ordered to close immediately after an inspection team found a large amount of evidence to suggest an infestation.
Muthu Kumaravelu, the sole director of India Bazzar (PVT) Ltd, of Broad Street, pleaded guilty to six breaches of food hygiene regulations at Swindon Magistrates Court on Friday.
The prosecution was brought against Kumaravelu after his business was closed for six weeks in November 2023 as environmental health inspectors from Swindon Borough Council discovered a severe rat infestation. Prior to the closure, magistrates were told how one of the Council’s Environmental Health team described it as the worst rat infestation she had seen in 24 years.
Council officers visited the store on 2 November 2023 when it was open and serving customers and immediately noticed large quantities of rat droppings on the floor and shelving. Large quantities of food, including biscuits, pastries, salt and peanuts had also been gnawed by rodents.
There was also evidence of gnawed bags of food being taped over and placed back on the shelves. As there were clear signs of an infestation, officers served a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice, immediately closing the business.
Mr Kumaravelu was self-treating the infestation and informed council officers he was blocking holes in walls and doors with fishing net which he acknowledged was ineffective.
Simon Kiely, prosecuting for Swindon Borough Council, said: “It took six weeks and several visits for the property to be ready to re-open with the same advice given over and over. It’s clear that Mr Kumaravelu was aware of the extensive rat infestation at the premises on and prior to 2 November 2023, but had failed to take sufficient steps to address the infestation.”
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