Environmental health officers find filthy conditions at Redcar takeway 'Mario's'

A takeaway boss has been ordered to pay £1,800 after environmental health officers found filthy conditions in his kitchen and food storage equipment by a toilet.

Mohammed El Sayed admitted seven offences under the Food Hygiene Regulations concerning his former business, Mario’s in Redcar High Street.

The 35-year-old appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday following an investigation by Redcar and Cleveland Council.

Janine Morgan, who prosecuted the case for the council, told magistrates that officers used emergency powers to close the business and protect the public.

She said that during an inspection on January 13 last year, environmental health officers found a pizza tray stand stored next to a toilet.

Pizza ovens, fryers and a kebab spit were filthy, food was being stored on the floor and there was no soap for employees to wash their hands or disinfectant materials present, she said.

El Sayed admitted: failing to keep the premises and equipment clean and in good repair; failing to protect food from contamination risks; failing to effectively train food handlers; failing to maintain adequate personal hygiene standards; and having no food safety management procedures in place.

In mitigation the court heard that El Sayed, of Breckon Road, Middlesbrough, was struggling financially and earned very little but he accepted responsibility for the offences.

Taking his circumstances into consideration he was fined £160 for each offence, and was also told to pay £600 towards the council’s costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Mario’s closed permanently in June 2013 and it is understood that the shop is being refurbished for new tenants.

Speaking after the hearing Steve Goldswain, the council’s Cabinet member for community safety, said: “This case underlines how seriously we take any flouting of food hygiene laws. The health of the public is always of paramount importance and any establishments operating in unclean environments will be dealt with effectively.

“Our officers will continue to do all they can to protect public health when visiting and inspecting food premises.”

Man was left with fractured jaw after early hours Stockton attack

A MAN was left with a fractured jaw after he was viciously punched and kicked after a night out in Stockton.

Dean Mortimer, 20, had been speaking to his victim outside the Wobbly Goblin pub in Stockton town centre - before being invited to the nearby casino on Chandlers Wharf Bridge Road in the early hours of May 4 this year.

Outside the casino, Mortimer was caught on CCTV punching his victim in the face, and repeatedly punching him while he was on the floor, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Mortimer kicked him “two or three times” to the head and chest, before being dragged away by friends - only to return to his victim, who had staggered to his feet, and deliver another knockout blow.

Prosecutor Emma Atkinson said: “The victim had taken his wallet out of his pocket to find his key - a group of men, including the defendant, commented on the amount of money he had.

“The victim had about seven or eight pints of beer and described himself as drunk. He said he was going to the casino and invited the group to go with him.”

Miss Atkinson told the court that in the casino car park, another man patted the victim’s pocket, before he felt a blow to the left side of his head and fell to the floor.

“He saw the defendant running at him and he began kicking him and punching him. He believes he may have lost consciousness,” continued Miss Atkinson.

“He then managed to stagger to his feet when others dragged the defendant away. But he returned and punched the victim again and knocked him to the floor.”

A victim impact statement read to the court heard that the victim had needed a metal plate inserted in his fractured jaw, and has had ongoing dental problems.

He is also suffering from anxiety and stress, is frightened to leave the house, and has lost money because he has had to go on sick leave.

Mortimer, of Albert Road, Fairfield, Stockton, had pleaded guilty to one count of inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm.

He had previous offences for battery in 2012 - involving kicking at a woman’s head, spitting on a woman, and pushing a woman against a wall.

Mitigating, Graham Silvester told the court that Mortimer had told police he was acting in self defence - and that he had been intimidated by the victim because he was bigger than him.

That was rejected by Judge Howard Crowson, who saw CCTV footage which showed Mortimer was the larger man.

Mr Silvester said: “He accepts that he went over the top. He says he was intimidated, but accepts that he struck first and that the victim had not put up his hands to fight.

“He does feel remorse for what he has done. He said he wishes it had never happened.”

Sentencing Mortimer to 20 months imprisonment, Judge Crowson said: “You do have a history which suggests you lose you temper.

“The film showed you are a bigger man than him. You persisted in beating him even after you had been pulled away by your friends.

“It is important that people in the wider community know that these crimes end up with prison.”