A MAN whose company provided the food for a Wheathampstead business has been fined over �7,000 for breaching food hygiene regulations.

Ashley Jones was prosecuted as director of Khameleon Restaurants Ltd by St Albans District Council for breaching food hygiene regulations. He pleaded guilty to seven offences, four of which were for failing to keep proper documented procedures and failing to comply with general hygiene requirements.

He was fined �750 for these offences. Two further offences, for which Jones received a �1,000 fine for each, were for failing to comply with improvement notices relating to procedures for keeping records and for failing to train staff.

Jones also received a �100 fine for failing to advise the council that Khameleon Restaurants Ltd were no longer continuing in business. Additional costs of �1,991.26 and a �15 victim surcharge were awarded to the council.

Cllr Chris Oxley, portfolio holder for community engagement and support, said: “I am proud of the skills of the council’s environmental health officers. Not only are they highly skilled but they are determined to protect the public from the potential dangers of food poisoning which, as we have seen from a number of cases in the national press, can easily result in illness.

“Pubs, restaurants and food shops can be assured that if they do not do their jobs properly, our officers will pursue all legal means to preserve the district’s reputation. They are advised to consider the public and their legal and moral duties.”

Khameleon Restaurants Ltd used to provide the food for The Cross Keys pub in Gustard Wood but the company no longer provides the food for the establishment and has ceased trading.