Chelmsford business prohibited from trading after 'flagrant disregard for the law'

Chennai Dosa, an Indian restaurant and takeaway on New Street, and its director have been sentenced for breaching multiple Hygiene Improvement Notices and repeatedly breaching a Health and Safety Prohibition Notice issued by Chelmsford City Council.

Business and director fined tens of thousands

On 31 October 2025 Indian Eateries UK Limited, the business trading as Chennai Dosa since 2023, and its director, Mr Edward Prabhakaran Isaac, were sentenced for four offences of breaching Hygiene Improvement Notices issued by Environmental Health officers.

The business was sentenced to a fine of £28,125 and ordered to pay £5,625 towards the council's costs of bringing the prosecution. Mr Isaac was ordered to pay £500 in court costs and sentenced to 3 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with a requirement to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

The Court also issued a Hygiene Prohibition Order, which prohibits the use of the premises or its equipment for the purposes of a food business.

The case was heard at Chelmsford Crown Court, following an initial hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on 30 May 2025.

Flagrant disregard for safety standards

October’s case followed another successful prosecution against Chennai Dosa, heard at Chelmsford Magistrates court on 6 February 2025, when the business was fined £27,000 for contravention of a Health and Safety Prohibition Notice and a further £5,400 in court costs.

During sentencing in October, His Honour Judge Mills said Mr Isaac had acted with “flagrant disregard for the law” and was “well aware of the standards required but they were not remedied deliberately, for financial reasons."

Councillor Donna Eley, Cabinet Member for a Safer Chelmsford said:

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“The sentencing for both these cases reflects the severity of the offences and is a great result for Chelmsford City Council officers who worked to bring this complex case to the courts. It’s unfortunate that the Hygiene Improvement prosecution was so delayed by the defendant’s choice to go to Crown Court, but officers persevered, and the Judge’s choice to issue a Hygiene Prohibition Order means that no food business can operate out of that location without prior approval from the council’s Business Compliance team.

“Officers always try to help businesses improve and, more often than not, business owners and staff are happy to receive and act upon their advice. Sometimes though food business operators choose to prioritise profit over safety, and we must bring them before a court to get them to take matters seriously. Keeping customers and staff safe is the most important thing.”

Councillor Donna Eley, Cabinet Member for a Safer Chelmsford

Continuous disregard for Food Hygiene standards

Seven Hygiene Improvement Notices were issued to Chennai Dosa following a routine Environmental Health inspection in June 2024. The inspection resulted in a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme score of 0 – urgent improvement is required.

The Notices required improvements be made to various structural non-compliances throughout the restaurant’s food preparation areas, including issues with floors, walls and ceilings, as well as water supply. When council officers attended for a follow up inspection, they found that some improvements had been made but there had been no impactful efforts to make changes required by four of the Hygiene Improvement Notices.

During the sentencing hearing, the Judge commented that “it is no exaggeration to describe [the floor] as being in such a state that it would turn the stomach of anyone who would eat there.”

Photographs taken during the inspection were presented as evidence.

Serious Health and Safety breach

Chelmsford City Council also successfully prosecuted Chennai Dosa for contravening a Health and Safety Prohibition Notice when it allowed continued use a machine that had been deemed unsafe.

During an Environmental Health visit in September 2023, less than three months after Indian Eateries UK Limited registered Chennai Dosa as a food business, a rice and lentil crusher was found to pose serious risk of personal injury. A Health and Safety Prohibition Notice was formally served, and a council officer explained to staff, the restaurant’s manager and the business owner that the machine must not be used, as it posed a safety risk to anyone operating it.

Photographs taken of the machine during various inspections were presented as evidence.

During multiple follow up visits between November 2023 and May 2024, inspecting officers noted signs the machine had been used. Staff were reminded that the machine should not be used, the notice was repeatedly reattached to the machine to ensure it was easily recognisable as dangerous and a council officer even cut off the plug of the machine to prevent it being used.

Each breach of the Health and Safety Prohibition Notice was noted and presented in court at a pre-trail hearing on 26 September 2024. At this point, the Judge was able to issue a forfeiture and destruction order for the machine, and the business forfeited the machine.

Due to the Hygiene Prohibition Order, 32-33 New Street cannot operate as a food business and the equipment at that premises cannot be used for the purpose of a food business, without prior consent from Chelmsford City Council.

What to do if you have concerns about a local business

Any business that sells or serves food to the public will have a Food Hygiene Rating, in accordance with the Food Standards Agency. Some food outlets display their Hygiene Rating, but it is not compulsory to do so.

You can always find the current Food Hygiene Rating of a business on the FSA website. By searching the business’ name and location, you can find the overall rating (as is often seen on window stickers), as well as a breakdown of that rating.

If you have any concerns about hygiene standards at establishments anywhere in the Chelmsford District, please report them to the council’s Business Compliance team.