Pub landlord jailed for food safety offences

06 August 2001 by
Pub landlord jailed for food safety offences

The tenant landlord of a Dorset pub was jailed for 30 days last week after admitting nine health and safety offences.

Stephen Riddiford-Smith, 44, who ran the Martyrs Inn at Tolpuddle for brewer Hall & Woodhouse, was also given a 12-month conditional discharge at Dorchester Magistrates' Court.

Magistrate Paul Farmer said he had showed "substantial disregard" for health and safety and put his customers at risk.

Food safety officers had found rotting food and decaying insects in the kitchen, blood and stale meat in the fridge, and access for rats and mice. They also said some staff were untrained (Caterer, 28 June, page 6).

The court heard that Riddiford-Smith had taken on the pub after the opening of the Tolpuddle bypass had badly affected trade, and could not afford to employ trained staff. He had worked in catering for 20 years but had no formal training.

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