The owner of a filthy Southall restaurant that was forced to close twice in six months has been handed a court order preventing him from managing a food business.

Gurdev Singh Matharu, owner of Paradise Tandoori Restaurant in North Road, Southall, appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday 20 April. He pleaded guilty to 30 food hygiene offences.

As well as the Hygiene Prohibition Order, Mr Matharu was given a 12 month community order requiring him to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and was told to pay £2000 towards the council’s costs.

Ealing Council’s Food Safety Team visited Paradise Tandoori restaurant in April 2011 following a complaint from a member of the public who saw a rat on the premises.

The inspector found dirty and disorganised premises with mouse droppings near to food, amongst the pots and pans and throughout the rest of the premises. Spilled mice bait was found in a storage room in the kitchen and the inspector saw a rat peering through a skylight leading into the building during the inspection.

Mr Matharu agreed to voluntarily close the restaurant while work was carried out to remove the risk to health and it reopened in May 2011.

When Paradise Tandoori was next visited in October 2011, the business was found to be in a filthy condition. There were cockroaches in the kitchen and evidence of a mouse infestation, including fresh mouse dropping and a decomposing mouse behind a water pipe. There were also two open drains, as well as many other openings that could be used by mice and cockroaches to come into the premises.

The restaurant’s main food chiller was found to be dirty, food was being stored uncovered. An open box of samosas was stored under a work surface when it should have been kept in a fridge. Routine food checks were found to be inadequate, and in some cases, falsified. Inspectors closed the restaurant down again that day.

Pat Hayes, Executive Director for Planning and Regeneration, said: "These are very serious offences and I am pleased that the court agreed with us that Mr Matharu’s willingness to put the public at risk was completely unacceptable."

"He is now banned from managing a food business for at least six months and will have to satisfy the court that he is fit to do so before they lift the order."

"I hope that this result will send out a clear message to traders that we will use our full powers to make sure that no-one sells food from premises that do not meet our high standards of hygiene and cleanliness."