(Image: Cardiff Council)
Last Updated: 4 minutes ago
A minimarket in Ely, Cardiff, was shut down twice after council officers discovered widespread evidence of rats among food products on the shelves.
Jeyaratnam Pathmastri, of Heol Muston, Ely, and his company Family Choice T&N Ltd have now been sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to three charges.
How the case began
The investigation was triggered in August 2024 when a customer contacted Shared Regulatory Services after buying a loaf of bread from the Family Choice Minimarket and discovering holes in the packaging. The complaint also reported rat droppings and contaminated food at the store.
What officers found
When council officers attended on 19 August 2024, they uncovered an active rat infestation throughout the premises. Droppings were found across the shop floor, on shelves holding food, and within storage areas. Packaging on some food items had been gnawed or damaged by pests.
A food hygiene inspection carried out during the same visit resulted in a rating of 0 – meaning urgent improvement was necessary.
A known problem
Pest control records revealed that the business had been aware of rat issues since April 2024. Despite this, essential steps to tackle the infestation – including sealing entry points and carrying out thorough cleaning – had not been completed.
Two closures
Given the serious public health risk, the premises met the legal threshold for closure. The landlord, who is Mr Pathmastri’s brother and was present at the time, agreed to close the shop voluntarily on his behalf.
Cleaning and pest control work was subsequently carried out and the shop briefly reopened. However, fresh complaints were received just days later. Officers returned to find more rat droppings, further damaged food, and continued poor conditions. The shop was voluntarily closed for a second time.
The business then undertook pest-proofing works, removed damaged materials, and completed a deep clean. Several further inspections by officers and pest control specialists followed before the shop was permitted to reopen.
Sentencing
Mr Pathmastri appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 12 May, having previously entered not guilty pleas on 11 March before changing them to guilty.
He was fined £490 and ordered to pay a £198 victim surcharge and £1,980 in costs.
Family Choice T&N Ltd was fined £3,600 and ordered to pay a £1,040 victim surcharge and £2,000 in costs.
The combined total exceeded £9,000.
Cllr Norma Mackie, Cabinet Member responsible for Shared Regulatory Services at Cardiff Council, said: “It is essential that all businesses that sell food have effective measures in place to control pests. The evidence of an active rodent infestation presented a significant risk of food contamination, which can have serious consequences for public health.
“It is vitally important that all business owners act quickly when dealing with pest control issues and ensure they meet all legal requirements to protect their customers.”
