Indian restaurant that killed customer with peanut allergy says sorry for ‘crass’ apology email

The email titled 'Our Apology' describes the restaurant owner's jail sentence as 'somewhat disappointing' and goes on to promote a 'new dessert menu'

Restaurant owner Mohammed Zaman leaves Teesside Crown Court last month (PA)

An Indian restaurant whose owner was jailed for six years after being convicted of killing a customer with a nut allergy has apologised after it issued a "crass" apology email – which also advertised its new dessert range.

Mohammed Zaman, 53, the owner of Indian Garden in Easingwold, was convicted of Paul Wilson's manslaughter following a trial at Teesside Crown Court in May.

Mr Wilson, 38, had asked for a chicken tikka masala with “no nuts”, but the curry he was given had been cooked with a ground nut mix containing peanuts, despite the request being clearly marked on the lid of his meal.

He had a fatal anaphylactic shock at his home in Helperby, North Yorkshire, in January 2014.

The email, sent out by the restaurant, titled “Our Apology”, describes the outcome of the case as “somewhat disappointing” and goes on to promote a “new dessert menu” and its “Saturday special” lassis.

The email, as reported by ITV News, says: "[We]...sincerely apologise to all our loyal customers for the recent heavy press surrounding the Easingwold branch and the somewhat disappointing decision for our founding father Mr Zaman. Mistakes have been made and this is no excuse but now is a time to move on as Mr Zaman so wishes."

Keith and Margaret Wilson, whose son Paul died after eating a takeaway curry from the Indian Garden, Easingwold, North Yorkshire (PA)

"We are now in the process of launching a new dessert menu and have hired an exclusive pastry chef from London to design this. Our philosophy, started by our founder, [Mohammed] Khalique Zaman, was and still is to create real quality Indian cuisine of the highest standard."

"With exhilarating flavours and subtle aromas... Jaipur Spice will transform your perception of Indian food...You'll spot the difference the moment the food arrives!"

The message has been branded “crass” by former customer Emma Foster, who ate weekly at the Yorkshire restaurant until Mr Wilson’s death, the Huffington Post reports. She added that the email seemed “not so much an apology as an immediate tout for the business”.

Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, said the email appeared to “add insult to injury”.

The court heard last month that Zaman, who is said to have almost £300,000 of business debts, took a “reckless and cavalier attitude to risk” and “put profit before safety” and it is understood he switched from almond powder to the cheaper nut mix in order to cut costs.

Mr Wilson died three weeks after a teenage customer at another of Zaman's six restaurants suffered an allergic reaction which required hospital treatment.

Since the email was sent out, Zaman’s son Emraz, a trainee solicitor, admitted the message had been inappropriate, issuing an apology to Mr Wilson’s parents.

He said: “We know that no words can rectify what has happened. This has broken our hearts.”