Environmental health officers closed a grocery store down on the spot after finding a dead rat behind a chest freezer.
Members of the food safety team from Leicester City Council shut the Spar in Millstone Lane, Leicester city centre, during a routine inspection on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Nicki Agalmanyi told Leicester Magistrates' Court yesterday (FRI) how the officers found evidence that the shop was infested with rats.
She said that the team found rat droppings and urine on a number of surfaces in a variety of rooms within the premises.
Ms Agalmanyi said: "The officers found that the premises was suffering from an infestation of rats.
"They found a dead rat behind a chest freezer."
She said the store had started selling hot food such as burgers, jacket potatoes, sausage rolls and sandwiches four weeks ago.
Environmental Health officer Claire Douglas said: "There were droppings on a shelf which shows that the rats were climbing around as well as being on the floor."
She said there were holes under doors which gave the rats access into the shop and free reign to roam once inside the store.
Ms Douglas said that rat droppings had been found near to shelves with fresh fruit and vegetables on sale.
The environmental health officer said they closed the shop on Wednesday and revisited it on Friday.
She said: "Some cleaning had been done and some holes sealed off but there is more that needs to be done. We found more fresh droppings."
Ms Douglas told the court that rats carry a number of diseases such as salmonella and E.coli 0157.
She said: "Bacteria can be transmitted via urine and droppings as well being transferred from the feet and bodies of rats.
"Bacteria can survive in droppings and urine a for long periods so rats present a significant risk to public health."
Martin Tolley, the food business operator at the store, did not appear at court.
He is the sole director of the Famous Enterprise Cocktail Company Ltd which runs the Spar shop.
Ms Douglas said that Mr Tolley had told her he had been having rat problems for three months. He told her he had caught two rats in traps he laid himself.
The court heard that Mr Tolley had now employed a builder to help seal the holes with concrete and to repair the holes under doors.
Ms Douglas said that he had also employed a professional pest control firm to try to get rid of the rat infestation.
Chairman of the bench Tarlochan Rayt granted the application for a hygiene emergency provision order.
He said he was satisfied the shop presented a serious risk to public health.
The shop will be closed until the food safety team deem it is no longer a risk to human health.
Environmental health officers are due to inspect the shop on Monday.
Mr Tolley was ordered to pay £650 costs.
