Businessman who supplied ready meals to supermarkets avoids jail after council found he was storing fish in the BATH next to the toilet

By ROBERT FOLKER, NEWS REPORTER Published: 14:46, 7 April 2026 | Updated: 14:57, 7 April 2026 A businessman who stored fish in the bath next to the toilet before using them in ready meals to sell illegally to supermarkets has avoided jail. Stephen Akuoko, 62, had been operating in Watford under the name Tribal Foods for over three years, selling products that had inappropriately long use-by dates and a lack of detail on ingredients.       The business was pursued by the borough council's environmental health team due to concerns about the products, but Akuoko proved elusive until a fire at his home on Haines Way in October 2024. Firefighters were called to Akuoko's flat following a wok fire, and discovered huge quantities of fish in the bath and on the floor of the bathroom next to the toilet.  An investigation was then launched by Trading Standards, and Akuoko told environmental health officials that he would stop selling Tribal Foods products. However, weeks after the fire, his unlabelled products were found in a local shop with CCTV footage showing he had made three deliveries to the store.     Akuoko later pleaded guilty to two food safety offences, as the judge blasted him for the meals that were 'unfit for human consumption'.  At St Albans Crown Court last Thursday, he received a two-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year ban from operating any food business. Stephen Akuoko, 62, had been operating in Watford under the name Tribal Foods for over three years, selling products that had inappropriately long use-by dates and a lack of detail on ingredients. Pictured: The huge quantities of fish in the bath Firefighters were called to Akuoko's flat following a wok fire, and also discocered fish on floor of the bathroom next to the toilet (pictured) At St Albans Crown Court last Thursday, Akuoko received a two-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year ban from operating any food business Prosecutor Michael Coley said the environmental health team began investigating Tribal Foods after finding ready meals in local shops. The product was judged to have inappropriately long use-by dates and a lack of detail on ingredients. Mr Coley said the business was difficult to track down, and when officers did eventually manage to speak to Akuoko over the phone, he became aggressive, accusing them of harassment. After the fire at his home, Akuoko claimed all the food in the property was for him and his family, Mr Coley said. Remedial action was served, and the Akuoko assured officers they would not see Tribal Foods products in Watford again, but weeks later, they found his unlabelled products in a local shop. They checked CCTV footage and found he had made three deliveries to one shop in a matter of weeks. 'This was an intentional breach and a flagrant disregard for the law,' Mr Coley said. Akuoko later pleaded guilty to contravening food safety and hygiene regulations and failing to comply with a remedial action notice. In mitigation, Aleister Adamson said his client had owned a supermarket for many years until the property's lease expired. He then lost an expensive legal fight and became homeless until he was given social housing. Akuoko then set up Tribal Foods, which he initially operated from a rented kitchen space before he started cooking from home. 'He was not in receipt of any benefits at that time and was relying on the business, which was not profitable at any stage, to support his basic living needs,' Mr Adamson said. Akuoko pleaded guilty to two food safety offences, as the judge blasted him for the meals that were 'unfit for human consumption'. Pictured: Fish used for Akiuko's ready meals stored in the bath Pictured: Akuoko's kitchen that was used to prepare the illegal ready meals sold to stores across Watford Judge Francis Sheridan said: 'Your little business got bigger than you could handle and you resorted to frankly disgusting techniques - fish on the floor of the bathroom, fish in the bathtub, and then you cooked them up and sold them. 'How you would even think about serving food kept like that to even your own family beggars belief. 'You were preparing food for supply to outlets, supermarkets and corner stores, and the food was frankly unfit for human consumption. 'You might be a good cook of oriental foods in your own home, but you should keep that within your own home. 'You must realise that food poisoning can have very serious consequences, even death, and if that had happened you would be facing manslaughter charges.'   Judge Sheridan praised the 'dogged' efforts of the environmental health team who he said had performed a public service. Justine Hoy, Associate Director Housing and Wellbeing for Watford Borough Council, said: 'Food safety laws exist to protect the public.  'In this case, there was a clear and sustained failure to comply with legal requirements, despite formal enforcement action being taken. 'We will not hesitate to take action where businesses or individuals put public health at risk.  'This successful prosecution demonstrates our commitment to maintaining high food safety standards across Watford.' No comments have so far been submitted. 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