A recruitment agency director whose business failed with debts of nearly £320,000 has been banned from being a company director for five years.

Stuart Cox, 30, of Shipdham, Norfolk, gave an undertaking not to hold directorships or take part in company management because of his conduct as a director of Alpha Recruitment. The company, based in Wymondham, Norfolk, went into voluntary liquidation on 1 May 2002, with debts of £319,965.

Cox faced charges of failing to pay VAT and tax and operating a policy of withholding tax – even though it paid off other creditors.

At the date of liquidation, Alpha Recruitment owed a total of £164,266 to HM Customs and Excise, including £140,719 in unpaid VAT returns. It also owed £188,599 to the Inland Revenue.

Cox, who did not dispute any charges, was also accused of failing to send Alpha’s VAT returns for the 2001-2 tax year, even though he had the information available. Cox was unavailable for comment.