A man who admitted selling food not fit for human consumption to customers across Warminster has been spared a prison sentence.
District judge Joanna Dickens told 29-year-old Cuneyt Ascioglu he “exposed members of the public to very high risks” by failing to comply with basic food safety and hygiene regulations whilst running Speedy Chef takeaway in Weymouth Street.
The defendant, Princess Gardens, Warminster, pleaded guilty to 12 charges of failing to: control flies, protect food from contamination during all stages of production, effectively clean and disinfect equipment, provide suitable washbasins for cleaning hands, provide soap for cleaning hands, keep the premises clean.
He also admitted failing to implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) food hygiene and safety procedures which are required by law.
Wiltshire Council carried out investigations into the failings between 12 September 2018 and 4 October 2019, and despite continuous warnings, Ascioglu did not make the required changes to this establishment in order to comply with the law.
Andrew Komosa, a senior solicitor for the council, said the offences attracted a maximum of a nine-month prison sentence.
Ms Dickens asked Turkish Ascioglu, who now works as a delivery driver, what he had to say about his crimes.
“I was the main director but we were working as a family. I didn’t have charge of the money coming out of the business.”
Dismissing his claims, she said: “You’re not a child, are you? You’ve been told this food was dangerous, so why didn’t you do anything about it?”
He responded: “I didn’t know how to run a business, my parents forced it on me.”
A short time later, Ms Dickens proceeded to sentence the former takeaway owner.
“You were running a food business, you were the face of it, you were the director of it. You were told that your food business was filthy, people can get sick and people can die”, she angered.
Continuing, she said: “It’s not EU nonsense like straight bananas or nonsense like that, it’s basic stuff like soap.
“The thing that makes it really bad is you were told about this and you just ignored it. It’s like putting two fingers up to the law.
“It’s a really serious offence, you’re lucky no one got really seriously ill or died.”
He was fined £2,000 and told to pay council costs of £4,000. Ascioglu must also pay a £200 victim surcharge. The total amount owed to the court is £6,200.
The takeaway, now rebranded to Pizza Plus, remains trading with new management, believed to be members of Ascioglu’s family. The establishment currently has a Foods Standards Agency rating of 3.
