Owner and Director of Minimarket in Ely Ordered to Pay Just Over £9,000
A Cardiff business owner and his company have been ordered to pay just over £9,000 following a rat infestation found at the Family Choice Minimarket in Ely, Cardiff.
18/05/26
Mr Jeyaratnam Pathmastri of Heol Muston, Ely, Cardiff, attended Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 12 May, where he pleaded guilty to three
charges against both him and his company, Family Choice T&N Ltd. This followed a previous not guilty plea entered on 11 March.
The case came to light when Family Choice Minimarket was investigated by Shared Regulatory Services following a complaint from a member of the public in August 2024.
The complaint reported rat droppings and contaminated food at the premises after the complainant purchased a loaf of bread and later found holes in the packaging.
Council officers visited the shop on 19 August 2024 and found clear signs of an active rat infestation, including droppings across the shop floor, on food shelves and in storage areas. Some food packaging had been damaged or gnawed by pests.
During this visit, a food hygiene inspection was carried out, and the business was awarded a food hygiene rating of 0, meaning urgent improvement was required.
Previous pest control reports showed that the business had been dealing with rat problems since April 2024. However, key actions to stop the infestation, such as sealing holes and improving cleaning throughout the store, had not been completed.
Due to the serious risk to health, the business met the legal threshold for closure and was asked to close immediately. The landlord and brother of Mr Pathmastri, who was present at the time, agreed to close the shop voluntarily on his behalf.
Although cleaning and pest control work was carried out and the shop briefly reopened, further complaints were received just days later. Officers returned and again found fresh rat droppings, damaged food and poor conditions, leading to the shop being voluntarily closed for a second time.
Over the following weeks, the business carried out pest-proofing works, removed damaged materials and completed a deep clean. Officers and pest control specialists carried out several inspections to ensure the infestation had been resolved. The shop was only allowed to reopen once officers were satisfied that there was no longer an immediate risk to public health.
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.”
Mr Jeyaratnam Pathmastri 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.