Filthy Rye bakery Conroy’s Bakehouse owner has no money to pay legal fees
An insect and rat dropping-infested Rye bakery’s owner has fallen into financial strife, telling a court his business has closed and he can’t afford a lawyer until he sells a property.
South East
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The owner of a filthy Peninsula bakery has pleaded poverty, saying he can’t afford legal fees due to his business having to close.
Peter Conroy, of Conroy’s Bakehouse in Rye, advised Frankston Magistrates’ Court last week he doesn’t have the money to be able to be properly represented.
He said he was waiting on the sale of his Balnarring property to find the funds for a legal eagle.
Conroy has previously pleaded guilty to dozens of charges involving rat and insect infestations and dirty equipment in his Dundas St premises.
He faces significant fines for 59 violations of the Mornington Peninsula Shire food service local laws.
In a series of council inspections in late 2017 and throughout 2018, inspectors found rat droppings, dead insects, food waste, cobwebs, contaminated floors, surfaces and cutting boards.
They also uncovered incorrectly stored food, greasy and grimy equipment, dirty and unhygienic conditions and “visible matter” that had accumulated on fixtures and fittings.
The court heard the business had closed in mid-May and Conroy didn’t have any income.
He said two potential sales of his property had fallen through, but he was hopeful of a successful sale soon.
Other cases involving serious breaches of council codes have resulted in massive fines.
The owner of a cockroach-crawling Brighton sushi bar was fined a total of $40,000 while the boss of a bug and slug-infested Brighton cake shop was hit with $24,000 worth of fines and costs.
And the owner of a pest-ridden Mitcham restaurant was served up a $50,000 penalty.
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Magistrate Vicky Prapas said she would allow the adjournment request because Conroy would need to present significant material in his favour.
She said it was beneficial for someone in his position to be as best represented as possible due to the number of charges involved.
But she warned Conroy the case would be going ahead at the next date with or without legal assistance.
He will appear in court again on September 20.