An Oldbury gangmaster who admitted not paying farm workers the minimum wage has been disqualified from being a director for 13 years.

During his time as director of employment firm Newtex, Kashmir Singh underpaid employees and failed to keep proper records of tax due on more than £4 million worth of sales, according to an investigation by The Insolvency Service.

Mr Singh admitted to failing to comply with agricultural minimum wage standards as well as failing to ensure that all workers were legally entitled to work in the UK.

Stephen Speed, chief executive of The Insolvency Service said: “Singh exploited his employees, showing a total disregard for the standards and behaviour expected of someone in his position.

“Being a director carries with it certain responsibilities, which Singh completely ignored.

“His disqualification shows that the Insolvency Service will take action against directors who fail to adhere to their duties.”

The company obtained a Gangmaster Licensing Authority licence in order to provide employees for seasonal agricultural work in 2006.

But that licence was revoked in 2008 following an unannounced inspection of a customer for which Newtex had supplied the labour.