The owner of a Maidstone takeaway branded "dirty" by council officers has been hit with a heavy fine after cooking with dangerous banned gas.

Mukhtar Hussain, of Mix Grill 91, in Week Street, has been ordered to hand over £3,694 and given a suspended prison sentence at Maidstone Magistrate's Court.

Maidstone council officers visited the business in July and found it had not been cleaned in certain areas.

Officers also discovered there was no food safety management system, poor structural conditions, no hot water and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) bottles being used in the cellar to power the cooking range and appliances.

The authority immediately served the restaurant with a prohibition notice ordering it to stop the use of LPG bottles due to the risk of serious injury.

During another visit that month officers found the takeaway open and trading despite the notice still being in place.

John Littlemore, head of housing and community services, said: “It was apparent that the operator of the takeaway, which was in a dirty condition, had ignored the legal notice prohibiting the use LPG bottles in their cellar. Therefore, the council had no choice but to prosecute for this and other food safety offences.”

"The council had no choice but to prosecute for this and other food safety offences..."

Mr Littlemore added: “This result shows the seriousness of the offences, and I am glad to see that the courts have sent a strong signal that it is unacceptable to put the health and safety as well as food safety of employees and public at risk."

On March 4, Hussain was sentenced to 120 days in prison, suspended for 12 months, after he pleaded guilty.

A victim surcharge of £122 was also imposed.

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