'Disgusting' Newcastle convenience store posed 'risk to public health'

A Newcastle shopkeeper has appeared in court after admitting four charges relating to food hygiene and safety.

Kamran Adil who runs Lyric Wines on Newburn Road, Throckley, appeared before Newcastle magistrates on Wednesday (September 3).

An environmental health officer employed by Newcastle City Council found the small convenience store to be “dirty” and in a “dangerous condition” when they carried out an inspection in February 2024.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “The shop was cluttered with stock and there was open trays of rat bait.

“Shelves and stock were covered in dust, carpet mats on the floor were filthy, paint was flaking off the walls, and there was damp on the walls and in the air.”

Adil, 54, of Halterburn Close, Gosforth, had been due in court in May but failed to show and a warrant was issued for this arrest. He appeared in court on Wednesday (September 3) in custody.

He was fined £1,250, but this was reduced to £833 on account of his guilty pleas. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £333 and the council’s investigation and legal costs in full of £761. He was ordered to pay the £1,927 at a rate of £200 per month.

When council officers re-inspected the shop in April 2024 they found “minimal improvements”.

In mitigation, the court heard the defendant’s mother had died in June 2024 and he had suffered in the build up to that. He admitted neglecting the shop and has since made significant improvements to it.

Deputy leader of Newcastle City Council, Cllr Alex Hay, said: “When people go into a shop to buy a sandwich, drink, or sweets they expect it to be clean at the very least. Sadly, this shop was filthy and a risk to public health.

“There was dirt and dust found on much of the stock, a smell of damp inside the premises and damaged walls from a recent leak in the roof. This is totally unacceptable and unnecessary as every shop owner should keep their premises clean. That is what the public rightly expect and deserve.

“We gave him the opportunity to clean up his act but when we saw no improvement we had no alternative but to prosecute him.

“The fine, surcharge and legal costs amounted to almost £2,000 which is a hefty penalty for the sake of not cleaning and maintaining the condition of the premises as well as the lack of any food safety management in place.

“I hope this sends a message to other shop owners in the city that if they let their premises fall below an acceptable standard we’ll prosecute.”