His wife was also given a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years, with a 12-month supervision order.

David William Peter Searle (44) and Kim Searle (45), who own Ashfield Stores in Llanymynech, had pleaded guilty to four health and safety breaches at a previous hearing at Welshpool Magistrates' Court.

The first two charges were of a failure to maintain and keep food premises in good repair and condition, particularly the ceiling in the rear store room.

The third and fourth charges were of a failure to ensure adequate pest control and of failure to provide premises that permitted good food hygiene practices.

Nigel Vaughan, prosecuting, told the court that on Wednesday, July 4, 2007, environmental health officers received a complaint about the smell at Ashfield Store.

The following day two Environmental Health officers visited the premises where they spoke with a staff member and discovered the Searles were away.

Gnawed

The officers inspected the premises and on the way to the rear of the store said they could smell a "foul stench".

An officer opened the door to the rear store and could see the ceiling
was blackened with mould and had water dripping from it, there were also rodent droppings on a shelf. Boxes were found with mould and fungal growth and the external door was in a state of disrepair.

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