A former takeaway owner was jailed for a year yesterday after one of the country's worst salmonella outbreaks affected 324 people, including an 18-month-old baby.

Bradford Crown Court heard it happened because of poor conditions at the Shimla Kebab House and Restaurant in Great Horton Road in November 2003.

Jailing the restaurant's then owner, 33-year-old Javid Qadir, 33, and banning him from working in the food industry, Judge Linda Sutcliffe said it was a "mercy" no-one died in the salmonella outbreak.

The premises were immediately shut down by health officials after people turned up at hospital suffering from severe diarrhoea and vomiting.

Prosecutor Jenny Ashworth said four patients were admitted to Bradford Royal Infirmary, but within 30 minutes ten more victims, including the 18-month-old child, had been brought in.

Bradford Council Environmental health officers visited the takeaway within an hour to seek a voluntary closure and it emerged that staff and their families had also been suffering symptoms.

Miss Ashworth said the takeaway was closed with Qadir's agreement that night and the next day environmental health officers took samples for testing.

She outlined details of various problems:

l In the raw poultry chiller, officers found an uncovered container of cooked rice alongside uncovered crates of chicken

l Metal shelving was so corroded it could not be cleaned and open bags of spices and herbs were being stored on it with a risk of contamination

l A staff toilet and wash basin in the basement was in a filthy condition

l No soap was provided on the staff wash basin and no hygienic hand-drying equipment because the electric hand-dryer was out of service

l Crumbling plaster exposed joists and water pipes

Although Qadir claimed some problems were caused by refurbishment work, Miss Ashworth said it was clear there were long-standing issues in terms of personal hygiene.

A link was established between the food poisoning admissions and the curry house and eventually 324 people were identified as being affected, with 60 of them admitted to hospital.

Of the 57 cases dealt with at BRI, 42 were adults and 15 children. Miss Ashworth said the outbreak meant 12 extra beds had to be made available on the first day.

As part of the investigation, 245 victims responded to a questionnaire and 95 per cent said they had eaten food at the kebab house within the previous 72 hours.

Qadir, of Thornbury Drive, Bradford, admitted 13 breaches of food hygiene regulations and 14 specimen charges of supplying food unfit for human consumption.

Since the outbreak, the takeaway has been totally refurbished and is now operating under new management as a limited company

Miss Ashworth confirmed that the outbreak was the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom for a decade and that three of the victims were bringing civil claims against Qadir.

Qadir's barrister, Stephen Wood, said the business had gained immense popularity in the local community and further afield.

He said: "The defendant feels great sadness for those who have been affected by this illness. It is to his credit, and a sign that reflects his remorse, that he has paid personal visits to members of the community who have been affected to speak to them, to apologise and to make offers of compensation."

Mr Wood handed in a series of testimonials in support of his client and confirmed he was a man who was involved in charitable work at home and abroad.

Judge Sutcliffe ordered Qadir to pay the investigation and legal costs amounting to almost £35,000.