A kebab shop owner has been handed a lifetime ban from selling food and had his filthy takeaway shut down by Harrow Council.

Huseyin Gaygusuz, the proprietor of Acropolis Steak and Kebab House in Wealdstone High Street, was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay a further £3,777 in costs when his case went to court.

A number of grim discoveries were found by council officers inspecting the restaurant, including dead cockroaches and rodent droppings where food was prepared and stored.

Surfaces and equipment were also found caked in grease and grime, food was mouldy and out of date, and “even the most basic of food safety procedures were flouted”, officers reported.

According to the council, Mr Gaygusuz’s disregard for customer safety was so flagrant that it took the unusual step of recommending that he never be allowed to sell food again. The banning order applies to the whole of the UK and could result in a prison sentence if broken.

Cllr Graham Henson, who is responsible for environment health, said: “We tried to work with Mr Gaygusuz to bring his business up to scratch but his unwillingness to cooperate meant we had to take tough action – now he’ll never serve food again.”

This latest action came after a food hygiene inspection in January found very poor standards with an imminent risk to health. 

Voluntary closure was accepted by council officers the same day and the business stopped trading on January 5. 

The case was heard at Willesden Magistrates' Court on July 26.