But lawyers told the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday that the fine would go unpaid as the Spicy Ginger Cafe had gone into liquidation.

ACT Health inspectors believed the cafe posed a danger to public health and forced it to shut in November 2011.

Landmark HC Computer ACT, trading as Spicy Ginger Cafe, was later charged with four breaches of the Food Act.

Courts documents said the cafe, located at the Australian National University's Unilodge, had been certified to operate in April 2011.

But an inspection only seven months later found a number of breaches, including improper food storage, poor cleanliness, the kitchen in need of maintenance, and a lack of hand washing facilities.

Pictures, tendered in court, show food had been stored in plastic bags and on unclean trays, on the floor, and not covered or protected from contamination.

The floors, cool room, fridge, freezer, and cooking equipment – including the wok burners, gas cook top, deep fryer, and exhaust hood – were covered in a thick accumulation of grease, oil, food particles, and dirt.

Blood was also found on the floor.

A waste water pipe for cooking equipment had been disconnected from the drain and a bowl of water had been used for hand washing instead of warm running water.

The cafe was immediately served with a prohibition order, banning it from preparing food for sale.

It was permitted to reopen in December 2011 after the owner, Jiyan Huang, fixed the breaches.

The company was subsequently charged with the offences but was declared insolvent and placed into voluntary liquidation, in October last year, before the matters could be finalised in court.

The collapse meant the company could not enter pleas and a court-appointed liquidator declined to defend the case.

Magistrate Robert Cook on Monday found the offences proved.

The prosecution told the court the breaches had occurred because Mr Huang had no cleaning routine – causing the buildup of waste – and no system in place to ensure the proper handling or storage of food.

The prosecutor said the liquidation meant the magistrate should place a higher value in general deterrence in order to show other food vendors the repercussions if they failed to take the health of the community seriously.

In sentencing, Mr Cook said the offences had been low range and the cafe had no history of previous offences.

imposed a fine of $15,000.

The court heard the company had no funds to pay the penalty.