Businessman Avoids Jail After Storing Fish in Bath for Illegal Ready Meals
A businessman who stored fish in his bathroom bathtub next to the toilet before using them in ready meals to sell illegally to supermarkets has avoided immediate imprisonment. Stephen Akuoko, aged 62, had been operating under the name Tribal Foods in Watford for over three years, distributing products with inappropriately extended use-by dates and insufficient ingredient details.
Elusive Operation and Fiery Discovery
The borough council's environmental health team had been pursuing the business due to serious concerns about the products, but Akuoko proved difficult to locate until a fire at his Haines Way flat in October 2024. Firefighters responded to a wok fire incident and discovered substantial quantities of fish stored in the bathtub and on the bathroom floor adjacent to the toilet.
This discovery prompted an immediate investigation by Trading Standards officials. Akuoko initially told environmental health officers that he would cease selling Tribal Foods products entirely. However, just weeks after the fire, his unlabelled products were found in a local retail establishment, with CCTV footage confirming he had made three separate deliveries to the store during that period.
Court Proceedings and Judicial Condemnation
At St Albans Crown Court last Thursday, Akuoko pleaded guilty to two food safety offences. Prosecutor Michael Coley detailed how the environmental health team began investigating Tribal Foods after discovering ready meals in local shops, noting the products had questionable use-by dates and inadequate ingredient information.
Coley described how the business was challenging to track down, and when officers eventually contacted Akuoko by telephone, he became aggressive and accused them of harassment. Following the fire at his residence, Akuoko claimed all food on the premises was intended solely for his family's consumption.
Despite being served with remedial action notices and assuring officials that Tribal Foods products would no longer appear in Watford, Akuoko continued his operations. "This was an intentional breach and a flagrant disregard for the law," Coley emphasized during proceedings.
Sentencing and Mitigating Circumstances
Judge Francis Sheridan delivered a scathing assessment of Akuoko's conduct, stating: "Your little business got bigger than you could handle and you resorted to frankly disgusting techniques - fish on the floor of the bathroom, fish in the bathtub, and then you cooked them up and sold them."
The judge continued: "How you would even think about serving food kept like that to even your own family beggars belief. You were preparing food for supply to outlets, supermarkets and corner stores, and the food was frankly unfit for human consumption."
Judge Sheridan issued a stern warning about potential consequences: "You must realise that food poisoning can have very serious consequences, even death, and if that had happened you would be facing manslaughter charges."
In mitigation, defense counsel Aleister Adamson explained that his client had previously owned a supermarket for many years until the lease expired. Akuoko then lost an expensive legal battle and became homeless before receiving social housing. He established Tribal Foods, initially operating from a rented kitchen before transitioning to home preparation.
"He was not in receipt of any benefits at that time and was relying on the business, which was not profitable at any stage, to support his basic living needs," Adamson stated.
Final Judgment and Council Response
Akuoko received a two-year suspended prison sentence along with a five-year prohibition from operating any food-related business. Judge Sheridan commended the "dogged" efforts of the environmental health team, acknowledging they had performed an essential public service.
Justine Hoy, Associate Director of Housing and Wellbeing for Watford Borough Council, commented: "Food safety laws exist to protect the public. In this case, there was a clear and sustained failure to comply with legal requirements, despite formal enforcement action being taken."
She added: "We will not hesitate to take action where businesses or individuals put public health at risk. This successful prosecution demonstrates our commitment to maintaining high food safety standards across Watford."
The case highlights the critical importance of proper food handling practices and regulatory compliance in the food preparation industry, particularly when products reach supermarket shelves and corner stores accessible to the general public.
