text: Mouldy food was discovered in a restaurant by inspectors after a diner complained of finding dog faeces on the floor - leading to £15,000 in fines for the ‘dangerous’ owner. Council inspectors found a shocking state of hygiene at The Steer Inn in Wilberfoss, East Yorkshire - and owner David Crossfield later admitted 17 charges of breaching food safety regulations. Officers carried out inspections where they found food in the kitchen was mouldy and unfit for human consumption - and food was being served to the public that had exceeded its use by date. Shocking: Officers carried out inspections where they found food in the kitchen was mouldy (above) and unfit for human consumption - and food was being served to the public that had exceeded its use by date . In addition, raw meat was being prepared in direct contact with ready to eat salad items posing a serious risk of cross contamination, Beverley Magistrates’ Court was told. Inspectors - who first visited in January 2014 - also found kitchen equipment was in an unhygienic condition due to disrepair, and there was a failure to carry out regular disinfection and cleaning. Meanwhile food safety systems, monitoring checks and procedures were not in place - and food handlers were found to consistently demonstrate a lack of understanding of food safety issues. Crossfield, 52, of Elvington, North Yorkshire - whom magistrates branded ‘foolish’ - also admitted failing to comply with a hygiene improvement notice requiring food hygiene training for his staff. Mouldy food and dirty floor: Inspectors found kitchen equipment at The Steer Inn was in an unhygienic condition due to disrepair and there was a failure to carry out regular disinfection and cleaning . Crossfield said he was the sole director of The Steer Inn (Pocklington) Ltd and had admitted he had taken over the running of the premises with no knowledge of running a kitchen or a restaurant. He said he had been worked in pubs and bars ‘with no problems before’ and he had been ‘naive’ and had been led to believe the chef had the right qualifications relating to food hygiene. Crossfield told the court that The Steer Inn had ceased trading on New Year’s Eve 2014 and that he was in the process of liquidating the company, which had no assets. Chair of the bench Graham McDonald told him: ‘These were appalling offences. People could have become seriously ill or even died as a result of salmonella. East Yorkshire restaurant: The company was fined £8,500, plus costs of £1,392 and a victim surcharge of £120. Its owner was individually fined £2,750, as well as costs of £1,392 and a £120 victim surcharge . ‘Your naivety was dangerous and the fact you relied on your chef was extremely foolish.’ The company was fined £8,500, plus costs of £1,392 and a victim surcharge of £120. Crossfield was individually fined £2,750, as well as costs of £1,392 and a £120 victim surcharge. Paul Abbott, manager for public protection at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: ‘The council’s food safety team had offered considerable advice to the food business operator of the premises in an attempt to produce safe food but despite being rated a zero under the food hygiene rating scheme, he had failed to make meaningful improvements. He added that the council ‘will always try to work with businesses to ensure the food they sell is safe and they are compliant with the relevant legislation'.
target: East Yorkshire restaurant probed after diner reported seeing dog faeces .
  Out-of-date food served and there was a high cross-contamination risk .
  'Foolish' owner David Crossfield, 52, and his business are fined £15,000 .
  Now-closed restaurant didn't carry out regular disinfection and cleaning .