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A judge fined a Devon restaurant owner £17,500 for food hygiene offences and said only rats and mice were safe to eat there.

Exeter Crown Court heard preparation and cooking areas at the Maharajah restaurant in Cowick Street, Exeter, had rat droppings on them.

Owner Gulam Choudhury admitted five charges under the Food Hygiene Act.

Judge Brian Cotter told him: "In my mind the only beings safe to eat in the premises were the rats and mice."

Prosecutor Jason Beal, for Exeter City Council, said Choudhury had failed to comply with standards over 16 years.

Defence lawyer David Sapiecha said there had been no outbreak of illness attributable to his client.

Judge Cotter did not close down the business saying that would not be appropriate as Choudhury had cleaned up his act.