Valerie MacDonald of Northumberland Today reports that a man charged with obstructing a public health inspector from entering a premises to be inspected, plus breach of probation, has been found guilty, fined $4,000, jailed for a day and put on probation.

The judgement issued by Justice of the Peace Patricia McHenry against William David Barth of Colborne was under the Health Protection and Prevention Act and Provincial Offences Act and took place earlier this month in a Cobourg courtroom.

The offences dated back to Dec. 14, 2015.

Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge District Health Unit Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy reported the case to the board of health last February and note that in any subsequent cases public health inspectors would apply for a warrant to “gain entry with police assistance.”

Asked about the case, local health unit spokesperson Bill Eekhoff provided this statement:

“The Health Unit works in partnership with local food premise operators to ensure they follow proper protocols and regulations when it comes to food safety. The Health Unit has a legal responsibility to ensure food being prepared, served, sold, or provided to the public is not going to pose a health or safety risk.

“In cases where food operators are not complying with the legislation or obstructing the work of public health inspectors, the Health Unit may have to take legal action to ensure food safety regulations are followed so that people’s health is not put at risk.”

In addition to the hefty fine for obstructing entry, Barth was ordered to serve a single day in jail, and was put on probation for a year.