A businessman who stored fish in the bath next to the toilet before using them in ready meals to sell illegally to supermarkets has avoided jail. Stephen Akuoko, 62, had been operating in Watford under the name Tribal Foods for over three years, selling products that had inappropriately long use-by dates and a lack of detail on ingredients.
To people who are from cultures who don't care about such things. We can thank out lucky stars these only contained fish!
The business was pursued by the borough council's environmental health team due to concerns about the products, but Akuoko proved elusive until a fire at his home on Haines Way in October 2024.
Firefighters were called to Akuoko's flat following a wok fire, and discovered huge quantities of fish in the bath and on the floor of the bathroom next to the toilet.
Akuoko later pleaded guilty to two food safety offences, as the judge blasted him for the meals that were 'unfit for human consumption'.
*bites tongue*
At St Albans Crown Court last Thursday, he received a two-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year ban from operating any food business.
The mitigation must have been something to behold!
In mitigation, Aleister Adamson said his client had owned a supermarket for many years until the property's lease expired. He then lost an expensive legal fight and became homeless until he was given social housing.
Of course!
Akuoko then set up Tribal Foods, which he initially operated from a rented kitchen space before he started cooking from home.
'He was not in receipt of any benefits at that time and was relying on the business, which was not profitable at any stage, to support his basic living needs,' Mr Adamson said.
Apart from the benefit of being housed at the expense of the ratepayer...
Judge Sheridan praised the 'dogged' efforts of the environmental health team who he said had performed a public service.
Yes, isn't it nice to see a local council doing something useful at last.
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