Six-year ban for pizzeria boss who employed illegal workers
The owner of a Cumbria pizzeria and takeaway has been banned as a company director for six years after hiring two illegal workers.
- Dondu Ozmicco hired two illegal workers without conducting right-to-work checks at the pizzeria in Cumbria
- The workers were found during a visit from Immigration Enforcement, who handed the business a £20,000 fine
The owner of a Cumbria pizzeria and takeaway has been banned from acting as a company director for the next six years after employing two illegal workers.
Dondu Ozmicco, 35, employed the workers at Flames Pizzeria on New Market Street in Ulverston before the business was raided by Immigration Enforcement in 2020.
Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:
Dondu Ozmicco’s failure to ensure the required right-to-work checks were carried out led to the employment of two illegal workers, in contravention of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.
This represents a serious breach of legislation and of the standards expected of company directors.
As a result of this breach, she cannot be involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company in the UK until January 2030.
Ozmicco, of Scale Hall Lane, Lancaster, was the sole director of Flames Pizzeria – NM Catering Ltd from its formation in December 2019 until it entered liquidation in March 2022.
The pizzeria was visited by officers from Immigration Enforcement in October 2020 and the company was found to be employing two illegal workers.
A civil penalty of £20,000 was issued by Immigration Enforcement in March 2021 which remained unpaid at liquidation.
One of the workers said he had worked at the premises for between one and two weeks.
HM Inspector Kendal Barnett, Home Office Immigration Enforcement said:
Illegal working cheats honest workers out of employment, puts vulnerable people at risk, and defrauds the public purse.
We will continue to work with partners including the Insolvency Service, as well as law enforcement agencies to tackle illegal migration in all its forms.
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a disqualification undertaking from Ozmicco, and her six-year ban began on 10 January.
It prevents her from becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.
Further information
- Dondu Ozmicco is of Scale Hall Lane, Lancaster. Her date of birth is 28 July 1988
- NM Catering Ltd (company number 12379008)
- Individuals subject to a disqualification order or undertaking are bound by a range of restrictions
- Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.