A GRADUATE with a degree in food technology ran a filthy takeaway infested with mice and rats.

Mum-of two Samina Mohammed admitted 30 food hygiene offences at Bolton Crown Court and has been given a 20-week electronically tagged curfew.

Rosalind Emsley-Smith, prosecuting on behalf of Bolton Council, told how the Al Noor takeaway in Newport Street, Bolton, was immediately closed down on February 12, 2013, after a visit from an environmental health officer.

Mohammed's husband and brother-in-law were working at the premises without protective clothing, there were signs of vermin on food preparation surfaces and the floor, equipment was dirty and mouse droppings and human hair were found on chopping boards.

Ms Emsley-Smith said the shop reopened on February 19, but then on March 25 the council was contacted by United Utilities, who told them water to the premises had been disconnected four days earlier.

An environmental health officer saw the premises' shutters were closed, but there was a light on inside and when he telephoned, pretending to be a customer, he was told he could order food.

Mohammed answered the door when he visited and claimed she had been pretending to take a food order for a joke.

There was no supply of hot or cold water to wash food or clean equipment, which was dirty, and the mouse infestation had returned, with droppings found among onions on a shelf.

The premises were immediately closed down and the court heard that Mohammed has since sold the business and is training to be a beautician.

Alison Mather, defending, said Mohammed, aged 23, of Camborne Street, Manchester, has a degree in food technology and had "rather naïvely embarked on this takeaway business without as much thought as necessary".

However, in February 2013 she was in hospital for a month before giving birth and then her baby son was ill.

"Whatever was going on in the takeaway business was not her priority at that point," said Miss Mather.

She added that Mohammed now has a second child, is in debt and has ill health meaning she is unable to work.

Judge Timothy Stead was critical of Mohammed committing the second set of offences in March when she already faced sanctions for breaching hygiene regulations in the February.

"I can only conclude that you decided to carry on, not caring what would happen to the general public," he said.

"Mercifully no one was harmed."

As well as a 7pm to 5am curfew Mohammed was ordered to pay £6,113 costs and was banned indefinitely from managing any food business.