The former owner of a cockroach-infested Indian takeaway has been fined for breaking food safety regulations. 

Spice E4 in Hale End Road, Highams Park, was found to be riddled with German cockroaches during an inspection in September by Waltham Forest council's environmental health officers. 

Conditions overall were described as "filthy" with "several dead and live cockroaches in the cellophane dispenser" and "dead cockroaches littered throughout the business".

The report concluded conditions at the takeaway were an imminent risk to public health and it was likely the pests, which carry food poisoning pathogens, had contaminated food. 

It was closed down two days after the inspection and was allowed to re-open after Mohammed Islam said his team had spent five days deep-cleaning, repairing structural damage and replacing filthy equipment. 

Ms Islam apologised to customers, promising "it will never happen again". 

Following the inspection, he told the Guardian: "He (inspector) was right to close us but now everything is new and we spend one or two hours every night deep-cleaning.

"We apologise for mistake, we apologise to everyone. This will never happen again. It was a mistake but we need to move forward." 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Mr Islam has been ordered to pay over £3,000 for poor hygiene 

Subsequently, Mr Islam gave up ownership of the three-star hygiene rated takeaway and the business changed name to the Taste of India.

Appearing at Thames Magistrates Court on Friday (April 24), the 41-year-old of Aldriche Way, Highams Park, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to comply with food safety regulations. 

He was fined £620 for the failure to control pests and was ordered to pay costs in the sum of £1,950.

At the initial hearing in September when the council obtained an emergency hygiene prohibition notice from Stratford Magistrates' Court, Mr Islam was ordered to pay the council’s costs of £569. 

He will now have to pay of £3,139.

A council spokesman, said: "News of the prosecution demonstrates the thoroughness of the council’s food safety service, seeing the process through from inspection to initial closure to court order and finally to prosecution.

"While it can take time to finally see owners of food outlets brought to justice, eventually they get their just desserts."

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Anyone concerned about a food establishment, should contact the council’s food safety team by emailing wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk.