Suspended jail sentence for owner of filthy restaurant riddled with mice and cockroaches

Alma restaurant in Edgware Road, Colindale (Image: Archant)

The owner of a filthy cockroach and mouse infested restaurant where food for customers was left exposed to vermin has been given a suspended prison sentence.

The Alma Restaurant in Edgware Road, Colindale, owned by Charles Mambo was described by an enviromental inspector as having one of the worst infestations he had ever seen his career.

When inspectors visited the eatery last October, in response to a customer complaint, they were so disgusted by what they discovered the closed the African restaurant with immediate effect.

Not only were the premises filthy, riddled with mouse and cockroaches, in a very poor state of repair and with untrained kitchen staff but food was left opened and exposed.

Inspectors found cockroaches crawling all over produce being served to diners, boxes of eggs were found teaming with insects and mice droppings were all over the kitchen.

Work surfaces were filthy and raw fish was being stored in a bucket of dirty water under a sink beside a bin.

Alma remained closed for five weeks until Brent Council was satisfied that there was no longer an imminent risk to public health from the pest infestation but the premises were so filthy that Mambo was prosecuted.

Last week at Harrow Crown Court Mambo admitted six offences under the Food Hygiene Regulations at Harrow Crown Court.

He was sentenced to a three month jail sentences suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £3,000 in costs.

Mambo was told he avoided being thrown in jail because he had pleaded guilty.

Bill Bilon, Head of Consumer and Business Protection for Brent Council, said: “This restaurant was in a disgusting state, there was no concern for the health of the customers and that is just not acceptable.

“We are satisfied with the judge’s decision in this case.”

Click on the picture gallery at the right to see more images taken by inspectors.