The owner of a pizza takeaway which was 'littered with cockroaches' was fined £4,250 at Barnet Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Ebby Shirvani, who has run Renos Pizzeria in Temple Parade, Netherlands Road, Whetstone, since February 1999, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure food was prepared in a hygenic way.

A Barnet Council report, which was read to the court, stated that the pizzeria was "littered with cockroaches". Live and dead cockroaches were found under the front counter, behind the salad preparation and fridge area, and behind a freezer where there was a breeding ground for them.

Shirvani, who had been using a poisonous insect spray in an attempt to kill the cockroaches, which was itself potentially harmful to food, claimed that the problem occurred because of confusion over his contract with Rentokill.

After the inspection, which took place on July 20, Shirvani closed the restaurant voluntarily, and it was re-opened days later after the problem was rectified. Shirvani was ordered to pay the Council £750 costs.

November 7, 2001 19:08