A baker has been fined thousands for failing to have adequate standards of hygiene.

Amjad Malik of Southview, Letchworth was ordered to pay a total of £4,907.50 by Stevenage Magistrates Court last Monday, after a prosecution was brought by North Herts District Council (NHDC) for seven food hygiene offences.

The 45 year-old, who trades from Ridge Road as The (AGM) Bread Company Limited, pleaded guilty to a list of food hygiene offences which included failure to put in place adequate procedures to control pests, failure to ensure that equipment was clean, failure to keep premises clean, failure to protect food from contamination and failure to provide suitable ventilation for ovens.

The court also heard that Mr Malik had not complied with a hygiene improvement notice served on January 16.

Mr Malik was fined £450 per offence, totalling £3,150, plus a £45 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to pay the council’s legal costs of £1712.50.

Councillor Bernard Lovewell, NHDC’s portfolio holder for housing and environmental health said: “NHDC’s environmental health officers work hard to ensure that anyone serving or preparing food maintains hygienic standards.

“We hope this prosecution sends a clear message to other food outlets that we will not tolerate unhygienic practices that put the health of our residents at risk.”