A THURROCK butcher who was found keeping meat in unsafe and unsanitary conditions has been forced to pay out more than £15,000 in fines and costs after appearing at Basildon Magistrates' Court where the business owner faced prosecution by Thurrock Council.

During a visit to Jones Meat Market, Derwent Parade, South Ockendon, in July 2021 Thurrock Council Environmental Health Officers forced the owner to surrender food to protect public health after they found a number of serious food hygiene breaches, including meat being stored at the wrong temperature, an excessive number of flies, cross contamination risks, food improperly labelled and a failure to keep equipment suitably disinfected.

Following the hearing the business, Kens Butchers Ltd, was fined £12,000 and owner Kenneth Christy, aged 59, was given a £467 fine and ordered to pay costs of £2,562.

Thurrock Council Council leaders and cabinet member for public protection, Cllr Rob Gledhill, said: "The safety of our residents is our greatest concern and Thurrock Council will not hesitate to take action where businesses disregard hygiene standards.

"Our food team had engaged this butcher and worked with him to improve standards but we were forced to take enforcement action when inspections in July 2021 found serious non-compliance with food hygiene regulations.

"The majority of businesses in the borough are properly run and protect their customers by maintaining high standards of hygiene, if they fail to do that we will always put the safety of residents first and prosecute unsafe or unhygienic businesses."

The business has been closed down over recent days, with notice given to customers that it has suffered from staff shortages linked to covid.