Milton Keynes trio fined for selling food and drink without a license on Just Eat app

Nathan Williams, Ian Rackley and Christine Garland have been ordered by the council to pay almost £5,000 in fines.

Sales were organised through the Just Eat app, the illegal business operated by continuously changing the name they were trading under.

Drinks were sold through the app under the names Mama’s Jerk Pot, Wilz Steakhouse and Vincy Vibes. MK Council suggest there were also more aliases.

An investigation was launched after several complaints to the council about the quality of food and hygiene of the premises the trio were working in. This is how council staff discovered the offenders were selling food without the appropriate licences.

Claims from the Milton Keynes Council state that all three individuals ignored opportunities to discuss or explain how they produced, cooked and packaged the food they were selling. Therefore, the individuals were unable to prove to council officials the food they were selling met hygiene and safety standards.

In a statement on the MK Council website, Councillor Lauren Townsend, cabinet member responsible for licensing and regulatory services, said: “The ease in which these offenders have been able to sell alcohol and food online without regulation, and from premises they don’t occupy, is a serious public safety concern.

“The majority of MK businesses have continued to comply with the licensing regime, despite the challenges caused by the pandemic. Milton Keynes Council’s Licensing team carried out a lengthy and complex investigation into this matter to protect those businesses by ensuring those who act illegally don’t get away with it.”