New heartache for fined parents of Four Marks teen in food truck row

A Four Marks couple are facing another heartbreaking battle after being ordered to fork out £6,600 for allowing their 14-year-old son to work in their mobile food trailer.

Karen and Greg Olejarka were dealt a bitter blow in the courtroom last week when Hampshire County Council (HCC) successfully prosecuted the couple for allowing their son, Dexter, to work in a food truck.

But now they’re facing an even bigger battle as Dexter’s older brother, Oskar, has started chemotherapy after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer.

Dexter made national headlines when Hampshire County Council (HCC) prosecuted his parents for allowing him to work on a food truck, contravening laws that prevent under-16s working in commercial kitchens.

The couple argued he cooked as a hobby but pleaded guilty because of the prohibitive costs of fighting the case, with the pair being fined £600 and ordered to pay £6,000 costs.

But it quickly became a minor concern following the opening hearing at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on September 18, with Oskar being rushed to hospital the day after the first hearing.

Karen said: “He has since been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer.

“I have been staying with him in the hospital since September 19. We were transferred from Basingstoke and I am now with him at Southampton General Hospital.

“Oskar has completed his first round of chemotherapy. We understand the treatment is being given with the hope to cure. His immune system is currently severely compromised.

“I’m just living each day an hour at a time and hoping for the best.”

The case was moved from Basingstoke to Southampton Magistrates’ Court so it would be easier for Karen to make the second hearing on October 27, but she was still “dreading having to leave him” to attend. The case was finally concluded last Friday.

Earlier this year Karen told the Herald that the food truck had been rented to help Dexter’s hobby, but at the final hearing his parents said he was no longer helping out on it.

Karen said: “Honestly, we have not had an opportunity to regroup and discuss the future yet. Oskar has been my focus.”

Hampshire County Council became aware of Dexter after a YouTube video praising his cooking skills showed him using a grill and a deep fat fryer.

Karen and Greg argued they were supporting his passion for cooking by allowing him to prepare food in the truck. They also believe the truck should not be regarded as a commercial kitchen, and insisted his education was not affected.

Greg also argued that Dexter’s views had not been considered and claimed he and his wife were being prosecuted for supporting his culinary development.

But District Judge Anthony Callaway said it was significant that Dexter was seen using deep fat fryers, knives and working in a commercial kitchen run for profit.

At an earlier hearing, prosecutor Ian Jenkins said the council had attempted to resolve the dispute before resorting to the courts, but added that Greg had made it a national issue.

Speaking after the case concluded, Karen said: “I feel we were unfairly treated, that this was a personal attack on my family - it was so much more than Hampshire County Council following the by-law.

“We were portrayed in court as criminals and parents that do not care for their children, and that is very much not who we are. We could not afford for our voice to be heard.”

Dexter made other cooking appearances in Hampshire this year, including giving a demonstration at the Alton Foodbank’s 15th anniversary open day in June and becoming the youngest chef to give the Young Chef Demonstration in the Cookery Theatre at the Alresford Watercress Festival in May.

But Karen said there were currently no plans for him to go public again before his 16th birthday, adding: “We need to find more money to seek advice about this from a civil solicitor.”

A HCC spokesperson said: “We welcome all suitable opportunities for children and young people to explore their interests and gain valuable experience.

“Our responsibility is to make sure that they can do so safely and in line with national child employment law.

“These are national regulations which Hampshire County Council has no role in setting, but which we and other local authorities are legally required to uphold consistently.

“We have remained in contact with Dexter’s family throughout, have worked closely with them to explain the legislation and the safeguarding reasons behind it, and have recommended alternative ways to support his talents while staying within the law.

“We will always commit to working with families to find the best way forward and only consider legal action in the most exceptional circumstances, where there are safeguarding concerns that cannot be addressed in other ways.

“The defendants in this case pleaded guilty and they appear to have recognised that the employment of Dexter in a commercial kitchen was unlawful.”