The owner of a north Pembrokeshire takeaway has been fined £2,500 for five food hygiene offences.

Cahit Babahan of USA Fried Chicken, 4 Main Street, Fishguard admitted the offences when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates on Monday.

He was also ordered to pay £500 costs to Pembrokeshire County Council.

The council brought the case following an inspection of the premises in January 2013 by an officer from the Authority’s Public Protection Division – following which the premises was given a zero rating under the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme..

As well as revealing the lack of an adequate food safety management system and inadequate staff training and supervision, the business had failed to protect food from risks of cross-contamination, failed to maintain the food premises in clean and in good repair; and failed to keep articles, fittings and equipment with which food comes into contact, clean and in good order.

After the hearing the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, Councillor Huw George, said the Authority would not hesitate to take action where serious contraventions of food hygiene legislation were discovered.

“While we could not excuse the serious nature of the breaches identified at the premises, the business deserves credit for fully co-operating with the Council in dealing promptly with the highlighted risks,” he said.

“I am pleased to report that at the last programmed inspection, standards have improved, with its rating rising to a score of three, - classed as ‘Satisfactory’ under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.”

Mr Babahan was also ordered by Magistrates to pay a victim surcharge of £120.