A director of two recruitment agencies supplying rail workers was ordered to pay back more than £11,000 in withheld wages at Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court.

This follows a prosecution by the government’s Employment Agency Standards (EAS) inspectorate.

Christine Lewiss, from Trimmingham near Norwich, who ran Rail Recruit UK and Rail Recruit UK Projects, was also ordered to pay £1,000 in costs after the prosecution for withholding pay from nine workers.

Lord Young, minister for employment relations, said: “We are going full-steam ahead to tackle agencies like these that exploit vulnerable workers.

“This verdict sends a clear signal that we will take action to de-rail rogue recruiters in Norfolk, and across the country. The action taken here demonstrates the increased impact that the expanded inspectorate is having in tackling those who flout the law.”

In 2008 inspectors raised the warning signal to Ms Lewiss, reprimanding her for failing to pay workers, not issuing terms and conditions and failing to hold required information about employees. Despite this, she continued to flout the laws and EAS pursued a prosecution.