Former hotel manager jailed after evading justice by living 'off-grid' in Scotland for six years

Angus Baillie was one of two people who managed the Station Hotel, in Pickering, when he was charged with food hygiene offences following an environmental health inspection of the hotel’s kitchen in 2018.

The 72-year-old pleaded not guilty and then failed to appear at court for a hearing. He was found guilty in his absence but disappeared until he was arrested by officers in January.

He told police he had been living ‘off-grid’ in Scotland.

Baillie, formerly of Station Hotel, Park Street, Pickering, and his business partner were charged under the Food Hygiene and Safety (England) Regulations 2013, and four Hygiene Improvement Notices were issued.

The charges came after an environmental health officer visited the hotel and found dirty and unhygienic food preparation areas, a fly infestation, which there was a ack of wash basins and hand washing, dirty utensils and equipment and a lack of cleaning procedures.

In his defence, Baillie said he was not in good health and claimed that he had not deliberately evaded justice by going to Scotland but had “put his head in the sand”.

However the Recorded of York Judge Sean Morris found the delay in the proceedings was deliberate and described Baillie’s continued absence as wilful.

The judge said he was unable to award costs to the council due to having imposed a custodial sentence and the defendant’s lack of means.

Baillie was jailed for two years and three months on Friday (May 1).

Speaking afterwards, Councillor Richard Foster, whose responsibilities at North Yorkshire Council include environmental health, said: “Our environmental health officers play a vital role in protecting the health and safety of our communities and we won’t tolerate anyone who provides food to the public but refuses to maintain basic hygiene standards.

“This result shows that even if offenders try to evade the consequences of their actions they can’t hide forever.”