A CHINESE takeaway owner in Looe has been ordered to pay more than £2,000 in fines and costs after being found guilty of health and safety standards.
Zhang He Gong, operator of the Ocean Dragon Takeaway, appeared before Bodmin Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
He was found guilty of one offence in relation to health and safety standards following an investigation by Cornwall Council's Public Health & Protection when an employee suffered a serious burn injury at the premises.
Mr Gong pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined £1,300, reduced from £2000 due to his early guilty plea, and ordered to pay £1,000 towards the council's costs together with the victim surcharge of £15.
Through his solicitor, Mr Gong contended that he had not instructed the employee to clean the extractor unit which led to the injury being sustained and was not present when the accident occurred.
However, he did accept that he had failed to give any training in respect of health and safety and also accepted that insufficient supervision had been given to his employee, the council said.
Cornwall Council food and health and safety manager, Nick Kelly, said: "We do try to work with businesses, but we will not hesitate to take formal action through the courts if necessary to protect the health of employees as well as members of the public."
