A former Birmingham city centre newsagent was found to be infested with mice, with droppings and gnawed food discovered throughout the premises, a court has heard.
Inspection reveals severe pest problem
Environmental Health officers from Birmingham City Council carried out an inspection at Newspoint on Link Street on October 17, 2024. The shop, located between Grand Central and the Bullring, was found to have a severe pest infestation. Mouse droppings were discovered in numerous areas, including among food and drink items on the shelves, Birmingham Magistrates’ Court was told on Thursday, April 24.
Company admits failings
Newspoint, which ceased trading in July 2025, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three charges under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013. One charge related to failing to ensure good food hygiene practices, including protection against contamination and pest control. The court heard that droppings were found in the storeroom near a soil pipe, on the floor among drink bottles, in the rear lobby, under the serving counter, behind sweets, between sugar packets, behind crisp tubes, and in a box of Alpen bars. A gnawed marshmallow biscuit was also found on the floor.
Another charge concerned the shop’s failure to maintain cleanliness, with sweets on shelving covered in dust and dirt. The third charge was due to the absence of a sink within the premises.
Health risk to public
Prosecutor Oladele Osinuga stated: “The council is of the view this severe pest infestation posed a health risk to members of the public.”
Defense arguments
Defending, Adam Farrer said the shop closed on July 8 last year after its lease expired, following unsuccessful negotiations with the landlord for improved conditions. He described it as a small, barely profitable business that faced high costs before closure. Farrer noted that the shop sold only packaged food, not fresh or open products. He argued that the mouse problem originated in a loading bay at the rear, which the business could not control and was the landlord’s responsibility. He called the issue a “one-off failure” during lease negotiations, with no previous concerns. He also stated that the unit had lacked a sink and running water for 20 years, yet previous environmental health inspections had raised no issues.
Penalty
Magistrates fined the company £1,000, along with a £1,400 surcharge and prosecution costs of £1,600.
