The former owner of a fish and chip shop which was infested with mice and in a “filthy condition” has been banned from ever working with food again.

Great Horton Fisheries was closed down for a week last November after environmental health officers conducted a routine check and found a “major mouse infestation”.

Mohammed Ajmal, 29, of Cumberland Road, Lidget Green, pleaded guilty at Bradford magistrates court yesterday over the lapses in hygiene at the fish and chip shop, which he has since sold.

He was convicted of six offences relating to the infestation and his lack of prompt action over ridding the shop of the vermin. The charges also referred to improper hygiene and bad practices such as not using an anti-bacterial spray.

Dennis Schulman, prosecuting for Bradford Council, told the court that mouse droppings were discovered in a container which stored a donner meat slicing machine, on flour bins, and work surfaces at the side of the deep fat fryer. Officers also found that some surfaces were filthy including a potato container and rumbler.

Mr Schulman said Ajmal had contacted a pest control company over the infestation of mice, and baits had been set, but the company had not returned to follow up on the work. After the Council visit the fish and chip shop closed for a week.

Ajmal had been warned two years ago after being overrun with mice at the same premises when it served pizza and fried chicken, resulting in the shop closing down for a week then, too.

Simon Hustler, for Ajmal, said he had owned the shop for five years and admitted that the “job was beyond him”.

“He didn’t have the best of luck. Staff were repeatedly sent on courses for food hygiene, but they didn’t seem to learn anything from what they were taught.”

Ajmal was fined a total of £1,740, ordered to pay costs of £1,412, and made the subject of a food prohibition order banning him from ever working with food or owning food premises again.

John Major, the Council’s assistant director of environmental health, said: “We are pleased with the level of this fine and the ban as it reflects the serious nature of the offence. We are here to protect the people of the district and this type of offence is unacceptable.”

By Jo Winrow