A Cardiff business owner and his company have been ordered to pay more than £9,000 after a rat infestation was discovered at a minimarket in Ely.
Cardiff Council confirmed that Jeyaratnam Pathmastri, of Ely, appeared before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on May 12 where he pleaded guilty to three charges against both himself and his company, Family Choice T&N Ltd.
The prosecution followed an investigation by Shared Regulatory Services after a member of the public raised concerns in August 2024 about rat droppings and contaminated food at the Family Choice Minimarket in Ely.
The complaint was made after a customer purchased a loaf of bread and later discovered holes in the packaging.
Council officers visited the premises on August 19, 2024, where they found evidence of an active rat infestation throughout the shop. Rat droppings were discovered across the shop floor, on food shelves and in storage areas, while some food packaging had been gnawed or damaged by pests.
During the inspection, officers carried out a food hygiene assessment and awarded the business a food hygiene rating of 0, meaning urgent improvement was required.
Investigators also found previous pest control reports showing the business had been dealing with rat problems since April 2024. However, important measures including sealing holes and improving cleaning standards had not been completed.
Due to the serious public health risk, the business met the legal threshold for closure and voluntarily shut following discussions with the landlord, who is also Mr Pathmastri’s brother.
Although cleaning and pest control measures were later carried out and the shop briefly reopened, further complaints were received within days. Officers returned to find fresh rat droppings, damaged food and continued poor conditions, leading to the business voluntarily closing for a second time.
Over the following weeks, extensive pest-proofing works, removal of damaged materials and deep cleaning were completed before officers and pest control specialists confirmed the premises no longer posed an immediate risk to public health.
Councillor 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 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.
