The owners of a Southall sweet shop with a history of pest infestations have been ordered to pay more than £11,000 after inspectors found mouse and rat droppings in areas used to prepare and store food.
Manoj Sharma and Harinder Purewal, who run Poonam Sweet Centre in Western Road, pleaded guilty to two food hygiene offences each at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 20 October 2026.
Ealing Council inspectors discovered mouse droppings throughout the production area during a routine inspection in May 2025, including on food storage trolleys and shelves next to food and packaging. Rat droppings were also found, along with dirt, grease and food debris.
The shop was ordered to close and given a food hygiene rating of zero out of five.
The court heard that the business had previously closed following pest infestations in 2010, 2015 and October 2024, just seven months before the latest closure. It had also received several zero hygiene ratings since 2009.
The shop reopened later in May 2025 after improvements were made. Further pest activity was found in December, although its hygiene rating improved to three out of five in August 2026.
Mr Sharma was fined £3,333, with costs and a surcharge bringing his total to £6,797. Mr Purewal was fined £1,538, with a total bill of £4,284.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “Food businesses have a legal responsibility to keep their customers safe. Finding mouse and rat droppings in areas where food is prepared and stored is completely unacceptable.”
