Leeds: rat-infested sandwich shop closed

A rat-infested sandwich shop in Leeds has been shut down. Inspectors found evidence of an “active widespread rat infestation” at Emma’s Sandwich Shop in Armley and even spotted a rodent in the kitchen. There were also droppings in the food handling area and bite marks on the lids of containers. The shop had no hot running water for handwashing and was covered in filth. The owner, Dawn Smith, was charged with 14 food safety offences at Leeds Crown Court and received a 16-month custodial sentence suspended for two years. One offence was breaching a closure order because Smith had continued to open for business despite several hygiene emergency prohibition notices requiring her to close the shop. She was fined £187 and banned from participating in the management of any food business. Councillor Mohammed Rafique said Smith showed a “flagrant disregard” for food safety and warned about the risks to public health posed by any failure to follow food hygiene rules.