THE owner of a restaurant which became infested with cockroaches has avoided jail despite failing to improve his business’ food hygiene.

Jamal Majed used to manage Baban Restaurant and Takeaway on Manchester Road as well as MJ Kebab and Pizza in Cavendish Square – both with zero food hygiene ratings - before he was banned from running any food business last month.

Returning to Swindon Crown Court on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty to five breahes of food hygiene regulations, Majed represented himself because he could not afford a lawyer.

He was moved to tears as he told Judge James Townsend: “I’m really sorry this happened but I can’t change it now. I have a wife and three children waiting for me.

“I have worked in many restaurants in the UK and I do have a hygiene certificate, but now I don’t have any businesses, I claim benefits, I don’t know what to do.

“Hopefully I get back to a business. I have told you true things.”

Alan Fuller, prosecuting, reminded the court that Baban Takeaway had been closed in April by food hygiene inspectors due to a “large, uncontrolled and active” cockroach infestation.

The court heard it took a month to get this pest problem under control and Baban reopened on May 27, but there was no sign of its boss putting a food safety management system in place.

Mr Welling said: “The manager and his staff did not understand the hazards presented.”

None of the three hygiene improvement notices were complied with by the deadline of June 27.

When interviewed in August, Majed said he had worked in the food trade for 15 years and understood the importance of food hygiene, then suggested that his business should not have closed because “in some countries, they eat cockroaches”.

September came and went with no sign of improvement, so he was brought back before the courts.

Majed’s Cavendish Square kebab shop received a food hygiene notice in 2020 for lacking water, and he had a previous conviction for 16 food hygiene offences in June 2013 which resulted in a £6,800 fine and £2,000 in costs to be paid.

Sentencing him for these latest offences, Judge Townsend handed out a four month suspended sentence, which will not activate unless the defendant commits another crime in the next year.

The case has cost council taxpayers £5,206, which would normally be paid by the defendant, but the judge waived this fee due to Majed’s “dire financial circumstances” and ordered him to attend 20 rehabilitation days.

Councillor Cathy Martyn, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for health inequalities and housing, said: “The fact our officers found the cockroach infestation was bad enough, but Mr Majed had numerous opportunities to clean up his act, which he ignored.

“I hope this sentencing sends a strong message to all food business owners that we will take action if we find residents’ health is being put at risk.”