A Fareham kebab van owner whose filthy vehicle was strewn with mice droppings has been spared jail - but banned from the food business.

Turkish born Yusuf Ozdemir, pictured above, admitted selling potentially poisonous takeaways to late-night revellers outside the Prague Junction pub in Fareham.

The 39-year-old father of three pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court to four food safety breaches under the Food Safety Act.

Although he was warned he faced prison he was instead given a 28-day prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and hit with an order banning him from any part in a food business for six months.

Ozdemir of Jade Court, Gosport, who needed an interpreter in court, was spared paying a fine or costs because he claimed to have debts of £30,000 - leaving borough tax payers to pick up a legal bill of more than £3,000.

His grime filled vehicle was raided by inspectors on July 25 last year - only a month after the serial offender had admitted ten breaches of regulations to Fareham magistrates.

Council health chiefs quickly forced the van to close by obtaining an emergency prohibition notice to protect the public.

Inspectors discovered:

Rodent droppings in a storage cupboard

Dirty work surfaces with cracks ideal for breeding bacteria

A raw chicken left in the fridge dripping over a prepared salad

Uncovered, dried out cheese in a fridge

Salad cream opened and left in a cupboard

Ramshackle storage arrangements for food.

"It is fortunate that no one has been made ill by these unsanitary conditions," said Fareham magistrate Dr Ivor Grayson-Smith at an earlier hearing.

Ian Rickman, principal environmental health officer, warned Ozdemir that inspectors would be keeping a close eye on him.

He said: "The court realised the seriousness of breaching hygiene regulations. This is the ultimate sanction. If he does anything wrong, food related or not, in the next 12 months he will go to prison for 28 days. We will continue our regular checks, and make sure he abides by the banning order. It is regrettable it has come to this but we can't allow food to be sold in the borough which isn't safe."

After the six months banning order has been completed, if Ozdemir wants to continue trading he will have to satisfy the court that he is capable of running a hygienic business.