Ex-hotelier is jailed for hygiene offences

A former hotelier who spent six years on the run over food hygiene offences has been jailed for two years and three months.

Angus Baillie managed the Station Hotel in Pickering and was sentenced at York Crown Court on Friday.

The 72-year-old, who also lived at the premises, was charged following an environmental health inspection of the kitchen in 2018 and went "off grid" in Scotland the following year.

Richard Foster, executive member for environment at North Yorkshire Council, said: "We won't tolerate anyone who provides food to the public but refuses to maintain basic hygiene standards."

"This result shows that even if offenders try to evade the consequences of their actions they can't hide forever," he said.

During the routine environmental health inspection, dirty and unhygienic food preparation areas were found along with a fly infestation.

His business partner pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced at York Magistrates' Court in October 2019.

Baillie who was charged with six counts of failure to comply with food hygiene regulations and four counts of failure to comply with a hygiene improvement notice, had denied the offences and failed to appear at court, but was found guilty in his absence, and an arrest warrant was issued.

After his arrest in January this year, he told police he had been living "off grid" in Scotland and had "put his head in the sand", but he said he had not deliberately evaded justice.

Judge Morris found described Baillie's continued absence as willful.

The judge said he was unable to award costs to the council due to the defendant's lack of means and custodial sentence.

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