Environmental health officers who visited a beach restaurant at St Agnes after a complaint, found dirty appliances, fly infestations and mould in the kitchen, despite hygiene advice they had given at a previous inspection.

Benjamin Philip Job, 36, who was then responsible for the Schooner’s Bistro at Trevaunance Cove, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates’ Court to a Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations offence of having failed to keep the premises clean or maintained in good repair and condition.

He told the magistrates that he had been on honeymoon at the time, and had left things to his manager and head chef. Job, of Barncoose Lane, said he was shocked and disgusted at what he saw in the restaurant after problems were identified by officers last August.

Dieter Kehler, prosecuting for Cornwall Council, said the restaurant was mainly open in the summer, catering for tourists, having been registered in 2013. Hygiene inspections in 2014 and 2015 had revealed poor maintenance, but Job had worked with the council when problems were pointed out to him, and he was not prosecuted at those times.

In August last year, officers found that much of what had previously been recommended for change had not happened, and that conditions had deteriorated. A fridge was in a dirty condition inside and out, with mould, there were fruit fly infestations, stagnant water in a saucepan, dirty carpet, extreme dirt under a wash hand basin, and a dirty ice machine, as well as other dirty areas. Job, said Mr Hill, had been very quick off the mark then to make sure cleaning took place.

Job told the magistrates he was responsible for the business at the time, but was no longer. He said he was on honeymoon in August, and after his marriage in July had not set foot on the property because he was at home with his wife. “I had made regular calls, and was assured everything was under control,” he said.

When he saw how things were, he “reprimanded and rectified” immediately. “To my shame I had left things to the people I paid as manager and head chef," he said. "When I saw the state of the place I was suitably shocked and took immediate action, closing down the kitchen within half an hour.”

He said his marriage had since broken down, he had been made bankrupt and signed off sick. He was looking for a job, but had no intention of going back to the catering trade or hospitality industry because they had caused him too much stress in the last six months.

Job, who said he now had no money, was fined £120 with £1,790 council costs and £30 victim surcharge.