The takeaway has now been given a hygiene rating of zero out five by the Food Standards Agency
The owner of a city takeaway that was infested with rats has been fined more than £17,000 and left with two businesses with zero hygiene ratings.
Food inspectors found a "substantial amount" of rat droppings at the Swansea establishment - while an area on the premises used to prepare food was caked in dirt and grease.
"It's through sheer luck that no one that ate at his business suffered any health issues such as food poisoning or worse", a council official said.
The hygiene breaches are related to Swansea city centre eatery Stonehouse Burgers while there were signs at the Mansel Street takeaway that rodents had chewed through a doorway to get inside.
When owner Shahzahan Hussain, of Walters Road, Swansea, appeared at Swansea Crown Court he was ordered to pay a total of £17,424 in fines and costs for 15 food safety breaches.
Some of the breaches occurred at his other premises, The Curry Centre, in Approach Road, Manselton, which - although not infested with rats - was found to fall far below hygiene standards.
The judge emphasised that food standards were of the highest priority and said it was extremely fortunate there had been no catastrophe because of the filthy takeaways.
Mr Hussain should be ashamed of himself, the judge added.
Both takeaways have now been given a hygiene rating of zero out five by the Food Standards Agency.
The court case followed repeated calls by Swansea Council's food and safety officers for Mr Hussain to improve standards.
Swansea Council said court action had been a last resort after the owner failed to act on a series of hygiene improvement notices he was issued with following multiple inspections.
Mark Child, from Swansea council, said the conditions posed a "serious risk" to diners.
"It is completely unacceptable that anyone running a food establishment can operate in this manner and I am pleased the court has chosen to hand out the sentence it has," he said.
"We gave the owner numerous opportunities to do the right thing and improve hygiene standards at both premises. We now know he failed to take appropriate action to improve standards and has paid a heavy price.
"It's through sheer luck that no one that ate at his business suffered any health issues such as food poisoning or worse.
"Hopefully this will send out a serious message to other food businesses in Swansea that think it is okay to operate well below the acceptable hygiene standards.
"The excellent work of our council officers has ensured that consumers continue to be protected."
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/inspectors-found-takeaway-covered-rat-12440527
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