A kebab shop meat supplier fell foul of food safety and hygiene laws when his freezer was found to be stocked with six metric tonnes of poultry not fit for human consumption.

Environmental health officers from Sevenoaks District Council filled 12 pallets with raw meat which had considerable freezer burn and bore either no use-by dates or ones which had expired.

The walk-in freezer at UK Chicken Doner and Poultry Ltd also contained German-manufactured doner kebabs falsely labelled as being made in the UK.

Some of the raw meat

Maidstone Crown Court heard the firm had been warned in 2015 it did not have the necessary local authority approval for processing meat from its industrial unit in Swanley.

The company's director, Sukru Ahmet, was advised to cease such operations until permission was granted.

But when inspectors arrived unannounced two months later they discovered a food processing facility, with meat cutting, dicing and grinding equipment, as well as a concrete mixer adapted into a food mixer.

Mr Ahmet was again warned, but a further inspection in April last year found the business still trading, and uncovered the six tonnes of frozen poultry, poultry products and doner kebabs.

Pallets of raw meat were found stacked up by health inspectors

It was later condemned by magistrates as being unfit for human consumption.

Ahmet, 59, and the company itself, admitted 21 offences of contravening or failing to comply with EU provision for food safety and hygiene regulations.

The court was told today that there was no evidence that any members of the public had been ill as a result of Ahmet's actions.

The former bankrupt initially set up his business selling raw meat direct to customers who visited his premises at Upper Hockenden Farm.

The meat was destined for kebab shops

However, the company was not registered with Sevenoaks District Council, and it was only when he applied to do so in November 2015 that officers were made aware of his plans to branch out into making and supplying doner kebabs to shops and fast food outlets.

Prosecutor David Hercock said the firm was warned in writing it could not operate until establishment approval had been obtained.

He told the court that Ahmet then showed a 'flagrant disregard' by continuing to trade, and also by falsely claiming in January last year that his firm had by then decided not to process chicken.

The poultry was not safe to eat

It was during an unannounced inspection a few weeks later that the truth was revealed.

"Notwithstanding the advice given in December 2015 and what the officer had been told in January 2016, the company was manufacturing doner kebabs," said Mr Hercock.

"On arrival, the officers were confronted by a facility equipped for the manufacturing of doner kebabs.

"Mr Ahmet admitted manufacturing doner kebabs and selling raw products for onward use."

The meat was marked not for human consumption

The court was told that despite a further warning to cease trading, the firm was still operating without approval in April last year.

It had also failed to keep records such as purchase orders, delivery notes and invoices which would have ensured the food's traceability.

"Products were being placed on the market when they were unsafe, and the products seized were found to be unsafe," added the prosecutor.

Judge Adele Williams was told by Ahmet's barrister that the large stock of frozen meat found in April would only have been sold on as pet food.

The meat supplier fell foul of health and safety rules

The company, described as 'micro' with a turnover of less than £2 million, has since stopped trading.

Ahmet, of East Rochester Way, Sidcup, now works as a foreman at the same industrial units.

The father of two was said to have been left in considerable debt to his suppliers and has no assets.

Judge Williams adjourned sentencing until Thursday.