The former owner of a Leeds Road takeaway has been fined almost £5,000 after environmental health inspectors discovered rodent droppings, filthy conditions and serious food hygiene breaches at the business.
Desi Khana was handed a zero food hygiene rating following inspections carried out by Bradford Council in March and August last year.
At Bradford Magistrates’ Court on Friday, magistrates condemned the state of the premises, describing the conditions as “appalling”.
Parvez Akhtar, 56, of Galloway Lane, Pudsey, pleaded guilty to six food hygiene offences linked to inspections carried out on March 3 and August 19, 2025.
Imran Hussain, prosecuting on behalf of Bradford Council, told the court the South Asian takeaway was initially visited in March 2025 and immediately given a zero food hygiene rating.
Environmental Health officers returned the following day and uncovered what were described as “significant breaches of food hygiene law”.
The court heard inspectors requested the business close voluntarily because of the public health risk.
Mr Hussain said officers found rodent droppings on equipment, rodent smear marks on doors, poor pest-proofing and heavily soiled conditions throughout the premises.
“There was evidence of an active rodent infestation,” he said.
Inspectors also found structural issues and no documented food safety management system in place.
Akhtar agreed to close the takeaway while urgent work was carried out, including a deep clean and pest control treatment. However, prosecutors said standards remained unsatisfactory.
An improvement notice was later issued, giving the business time to address the concerns.
During a further inspection in August, inspectors once again awarded the premises a zero food hygiene rating.
Akhtar was not present during the visit, although his son was at the premises.
The court heard conditions were still filthy, with inspectors also finding bricks being stored inside the toilet area.
Further improvement notices were issued and, during a follow-up inspection in October, officers confirmed the business had eventually complied with the required standards.
Defending Akhtar, Mr Ali told the court his client had operated the takeaway for around 20 years without previous issues and had once run an award-winning business.
However, he said Akhtar’s health had deteriorated in recent years and responsibility for the takeaway had largely been handed over to his sons.
“He had hopes for his sons to continue the business, but they have let him down,” Mr Ali said.
The court heard Akhtar suffers from a number of serious health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes, and has now stepped away from the food industry altogether.
Mr Ali added that Akhtar is currently on benefits, bankrupt and struggling financially.
Chair of the bench Lynda Bruce strongly criticised the conditions found at the takeaway.
“It was an appalling situation – it really was,” she told Akhtar.
“You knew what was happening, you could see the filth, the rat droppings, but you let it carry on.
“We could have committed this case to the Crown Court, it is that serious.”
Akhtar was fined £560 and ordered to pay a £224 victim surcharge, as well as Bradford Council’s investigation costs of £4,189.
The total financial penalty came to just under £5,000.
The court heard that, due to his financial situation, Akhtar is expected to repay the money at a rate of £5 per week, meaning it could take almost 20 years to clear the debt.
