Fine for Collier Row cafe boss who sold out of date food

A former cafe boss has been fined £370 for selling out of date meat to customers.

Kevin Davies, of Turner Road, Hornchurch, was found guilty in his absence of six counts of selling food past its use-by date at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Friday March 6.

The 54-year-old had sausages, ham, meatballs and a steak and gravy pie on offer to customers despite their use by dates having lapsed at the Lawns Cafe in Collier Row Lane, Collier Row, last year.

Nicola Simpson, prosecuting, told the court that a food safety officer had visited Davies’ cafe several times between April 2012 and April 2014 and found contraventions of food legislation.

Officers carried out several follow up visits to the cafe. On some occasions no problems were found while on others Davies was found to have flaunted hygiene laws, including serving food despite not knowing how long it had been frozen for.

The charges brought against Davies related to food found to be out of date on one day in April last year, including a Peter’s Cornish Pasty and a Tesco Spaghetti Bolognaise meal. No other charges have been brought.

Magistrates, chaired by Gillian Seabright, said Davies was given a reduced fine as he was no longer in work. The Lawns Cafe has closed and been replaced by a fish and chip shop, Caspian Sea under a new owner.

Mr Davies was also ordered to pay £200 court costs despite the Crown Prosecution Service asking for almost £1,200. He was only fined for the first two counts due to his financial circumstances.