A RESTAURANT owner has been fined after environmental health inspectors discovered his kitchen was unhygienic.

A court was told how inspectors found kitchen surfaces covered in mould, dead flies, moths, congealed grease and dirt at the Viceroy Indian restaurant, Church Street, Burham, near Rochester.

At Maidstone Magistrates' Court, the owner Mohim Uddin pleaded guilty to three separate charges of failing to keep premises clean, failing to keep equipment clean, and failing to ensure pests were controlled adequately.

Prosecuting for Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, Peggy Etiebet said environmental officers quickly realised there was a risk of food contamination during a surprise inspection in September, 2005.

Describing the state of the kitchen she said: “Officers found flies buzzing around the food preparation area and a heavy build-up of grease on the walls. The build-up indicated a long period without cleaning.”

She also noted: “Food ready to eat was stored in dirty containers.”

Miss Etiebet displayed photographs taken during the inspection. These included a dead moth in an oil drum next to a cooking range; a dirty colander containing salad; mould on a sink, and dead flies on a kitchen light.

She added: “The concern of the inspectors was that flies could drop into food.”

On a return visit later in the month, inspectors found Uddin had followed instructions and the premises had been thoroughly cleaned.

In his defence, Uddin said he had shown remorse and offered his apologies at an interview with the council in October.

Uddin was fined a total of £1,311.97. The Viceroy Indian Restaurant continues to trade.