A restaurant owner has been fined �13,000 and ordered to pay �3,000 in costs after admitting ten offences concerning food safety and health and safety.

Abdur Rouf, who owns Nimmi Indian Cuisine in White Hart Street, Thetford, pleaded guilty to the charges at Kings Lynn Magistrates Court on Thursday, .

Rouf was accused on numerous counts of failing to keep the restaurant clean and in good repair and condition, failing to ensure that equipment which came into contact with food was clean and in good repair and condition in order to prevent the contamination of food, and failing to comply with a hygiene improvement notice.

He was served with enforcement notices by Breckland Council's Environmental Health Team following an investigation which began in December 2009. These were repeatedly breached over a prolonged period of time.

Other offences related to a failure to comply with a prohibition notice concerning unsafe access to the restaurant's beer cellar.

There were also further failings to comply with an improvement notice concerning the restaurant's gas installation.

Both gas leaks and carbon monoxide risks were detected by health and safety officers during their investigations.

Fiona Inston, principal environmental health officer at Breckland Council, said: 'We are very pleased with this outcome.

'We work closely with business to provide advice and guidance on safety and hygiene but this case sends a clear message to those who flout regulations that we will take appropriate enforcement action to ensure public and employees' safety is not compromised.'