Sunderland shop used to supply takeaways and restaurants found smelling of mouse urine and littered with droppings

A pest control company alerted officers from Sunderland City Council to the infestation at Bangla Town Superstores, in Eden Terrace, Eden Vale, Sunderland, after the business failed to take on board advice to tackle the issue.

During a search of the shop, which supplies takeaways and restaurants, they noted a catalogue of concerns around how it was being run.

The findings – along with concerns about the sale of tobacco items which were not clearly packaged – landed owner Sofina Begum, 42, of Gilsland Street, Sunderland and her business in court.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard the storage area of the shop, which also had its own butchery, smelled strongly of mouse urine, with rice on the floor after bags had been gnawed at.

Dead mice were also found, with droppings on items in boxes and the shop’s shelves, while a check of the sale area found the animals had chewed through a bag of dried shrimps marked up for purchase.

Michelle Irving, prosecuting on behalf of the council, told magistrates: “Products were many years past their best before date and in total, 148 different products for sale had expired by several years.

"Ms Begum attended the store and it was explained that the level of rodent infestation throughout the premises meant the officers were satisfied there was an imminent risk to public health and the shop would have to close for a deep clean and pest control treatment.”

An emergency prohibition notice was served on the shop which meant it was only allowed to reopen once the officers were satisfied the issue had been tackled.

Begum admitted three charges relating to food hygiene and five to the sale of tobacco dating back to October and November 2019.

Ian Cassidy, mititgating, said Begum accepted the prosecution case and said “the offences speak for themselves” adding the shop was running at a lost and Begum was on benefits.

Magistrates fined her £480, ordered her to pay a victim surcharge of £48 and court costs of £1,000 relating to the hygiene charges and a further £300, victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £700 in connection with the tobacco offences linked to the shop.

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