A curry house boss who made hundreds of samosas every day which were to be sold in local shops has been ordered to do unpaid work.

Amrit Singh was operating out of the back of a take away in an operation where he 'chose to prioritise the making of money over the safety measures', a court was told.

But after hearing the Porsche driving 31-year-old had taken over the business after his mother took an overdose, a judge imposed a community order.

Edward Hetherington, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court environmental health officers had been keeping their eye on Pritam's on Cricklade Road.

He said the eatery had been run without anyone being registered as the operator before Singh's mum Hardeep put her name down in 2014.

Throughout the following year attempts were made to contact the business over reports of waste oil being poured down the drain, the court was told.

At first it was thought the establishment had closed down because the shutters were up, but in November 2015 it was noticed lights were on at the back.

When investigators went to the rear door they got no reply but after knocking for 25 minutes they spotted Singh's head popping out and 'sheepishly looking at them'.

He let them in and it was immediately apparent that the area was unfit for the production of food.

As well as the dirt, mould and clutter, food was being prepared on makeshift tables over a floor of part concrete and part carpet, making it impossible to clean.

The walls were bare plasterboard, which also could not be washed down, and there was an obvious mouse infestation.

He said the rodent problem had spread from the take away to the upstairs flat, with the residents complaining to them about it.

Mr Hetherington said there was no door separating the toilet from the kitchen and nowhere to wash hands.

Cooked meat was being cooled with a fan encrusted with dirt and raw lamb was being washed in a sink next to raw potatoes and coriander.

When the food orders were looked at, it was found Singh was preparing 705 samosas, both lamb and vegetable, which were to go to 28 businesses across town.

And the day before 920 had been delivered to shops, for onward sale, and businesses feeding their staff, along with 45 kebabs and 2kg of pakoras.

The court was told that Singh's dad Naveer would deliver the food and they were turning over £500 a day, though they said as it was Diwali trade was busy.

When Singh was asked if he had any training in food hygiene he said he did not, but added he had done 'a couple of years on the chicken rotisserie in Asda'.

As a result of the mouse infestation the business was shut down, but within a couple of weeks it was reopened after almost all of the problems had been rectified.

Mr Hetherington said it showed it could have done it in the first place, adding "He chose to prioritise the making of money over the safety measures he should have taken."

Looking at social media it was apparent he drove a luxury sports car and his dad had a Mercedes, he said.

Singh, of Attlee Crescent, Upper Stratton, admitted nine offences under food hygiene laws.

William Rose, defending, said his client had stepped in to try and keep his mum's business going after she took an overdose in 2015.

Although he had been the face of it for marketing purposes he had no experience in the kitchen.

"With hindsight, and it is a wonderful thing, he should have just shut the place down," he said.

After putting everything in order he continued to run it for a while before he too had a breakdown and it has now been closed down.

He said the £15,000 Porsche had been sold to meet debts and the family was still in the red and without work.

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said "This is not a case where the defects are the most serious: but they are serious.

"I am satisfied they had the capability of causing widespread harm bearing in mind the amount of people you were supplying in the area."

He imposed a one year community order with 175 hours of unpaid work and told him to pay £1,500 of the council's £4,621.50p costs of bringing the case.