A Southgate restaurant owner has been ordered to pay thousands of pounds for failing to comply with food safety laws.

Mehmet Mehmet, 36, from Barnet, is sole director of Prince Oliver (International) Ltd who, trading as Pasticcio on Cannon Hill, has been ordered to pay £8,420 for failing to comply with food safety laws.

Enfield Council’s food safety inspector offered Mr Mehmet professional advice when he opened his restaurant in January 2016 but mouldy and out-dated stored food was found along with inadequate cleaning, a risk of cross-contamination where raw food was kept with ready-to-eat food, and a failure to provide food hygiene training to staff in an inspection in April.

No implementation of further advice was seen in subsequent food safety inspector visits later in April, July, September and October that year, and further offences were found during a re-inspection in May 2017.

Enfield Council’s cabinet member for environment Cllr Daniel Anderson said the council is behind restaurant and cafe owners and will do what they can to help them make successes of their businesses.

He said: "We take a dim view of those who take risks with health and safety and will not hesitate to take appropriate action and prosecute where necessary."

Cllr Anderson also wanted to draw visitors' attention to the food hygiene rating scheme to help them find a place to eat.

Mr Mehmet was sentenced on August 3 after pleading guilty to food safety offences at a Highbury Corner Magistrates Court hearing on July 20.

The penalty is made up of a £4,500 fine, £2,200 costs and a £170 victim surcharge (which is the maximum) for the food business operator Prince Oliver (International) Ltd, in addition to a £500 fine, £1000 costs and £50 victim surcharge.