THE manager of a Chinese takeaway that failed food hygiene standards for nine months has been given a £3,266 punishment, York Magistrates' Court heard.

Food hygiene officers found sauces stored uncovered in the backyard of Maks Chinese Takeaway in Fishergate, York, cooked chicken stored at room temperature and a dirty floor, equipment and fittings, said Victoria Waudby, prosecuting for City of York Council.

There was no disinfecting liquid so the work surfaces couldn’t be properly cleaned and no evidence that staff had been trained properly or carried out hygiene checks such as ensuring that the fridge was working properly.

Its manager Meng Zhi Lin, 34, initially gave the name Wei Yan when hygiene officers inspected on August 2, 2017.

They gave it a food hygiene rating of one star out of five and served four hygiene improvement notices.

But by May 29, 2018, after three more inspections, the takeaway’s rating had only risen to two stars.

Lin, speaking through a Mandarin interpreter, said he had been too busy to look after the takeaway properly because his parents had been visiting from China and he looked after three children.

He also said he will leave the restaurant next week and has no connection with its new management.

Lin, of Kensington Road, Rawcliffe, pleaded guilty to four offences of breaching food hygiene regulations.

Magistrates told him: “You have shown little consideration for your customers’ or your staff’s well being.”

They fined him £738 and ordered him to pay £2,455 prosecution costs and a £73 statutory surcharge.

A spokesperson for City of York Council said: “We want customers from the city and beyond to be confident in the quality of all the restaurants and takeaways they visit. Thanks to our food hygiene team’s vigilance, these issues have been identified and customers protected.

“We give advice which, if not complied with, can lead to legal action. We welcome customers reporting concerns to public.protection@york.gov.uk."