A CRISIS-hit Oldbury employment agency, which was wound up after its licence was revoked following a damning inspection, has been revealed as a tax dodger.

The defunct Lloyds Management Ltd, a supplier of low paid workers to pick vegetables in Worcestershire and Lincolnshire, has been named and shamed for owing almost £160,000 in unpaid tax from September 2011 until November 2012 and penalties totalling £92,000.

The company, run by Prem Singh Johal, appears in the latest list published by HM Revenue and Customs of firms that either deliberately submitted inaccurate returns, deliberately failed to comply with an obligation, or deliberately committed a wrongdoing which would have cheated the Exchequer out of more than £25,000 if the taxman had not investigated.

The temporary employment agency operated from offices in Bradfield House, Popes Lane, for four years until it was liquidated in March, with liabilities of £38,585 and a net worth of minus £24,000.

HMRC decided to include the company in its name and shame list because it had failed to fully disclose the extent of its tax liability or co-operate with the investigation.

Its director general for enforcement and compliance Jennie Granger said: “Publishing taxpayers’ names is not something we do lightly. We are publishing the names of tax dodgers as it lets the local community know we are tackling this and encourage others to get back on track.

“Most people declare the tax that is due, but there are a small minority who try to evade their responsibilities.”

She added: “We urge people to come forward, so we can help them get back on track. It is always easier if people make a full and prompt disclosure and co-operate with HMRC. If they do this, they will avoid being named.”

An inspection of Lloyds Management Ltd by government watchdog the Gangmasters Licensing Authority uncovered 14 failings – including seven critical.

Workers were transported in a vehicle with defective tyres and an expired tax disc.

They were also made to pay for their own protective equipment such as gloves and waterproofs, contrary to regulations.

Last November, Mr Johal appealed against his licence being revoked in the wake of what the licensing authority described as the “worst ever” inspection, but employment judge David Perry upheld the original decision.

He criticised Mr Johal for having “little grasp” of what was required to properly run the business.