A bankrupt and disqualified director who broke a court order barring him from managing companies has been spared jail.

Insolvency investigators caught up with Michael Quinton, 46, after tracking his companies’ supply of security staff to major sporting events, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland, investigators said.

He was disqualified from being a company director for ten years and ordered to pay costs of £13,818.47, at Guildford Crown Court on July 27.

Quinton, of Clandon Close, Epsom, was given an 18-month jail term suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to two counts of acting in the management of two companies while barred from doing so.

He was banned from serving as a director in October 2009, but went on to act in the management of Limited Risk Limited and security company Defensa International LLC – one is now listed as dissolved and the other 'inactive'.

Quinton was investigated by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the Insolvency’s Service Criminal Enforcement Team before his conviction.

Investigators found that Quinton was the CEO of Defensa International LLC, a company incorporated in the United States, but which continued its UK business operations. It is listed on the Florida Company Database as ‘inactive’.

The 46-year-old was also the controlling mind of Limited Risk Limited, which was based in Waterlooville, Hampshire. It is now dissolved, according to its listing on Companies House.

In an attempt to avoid the consequences of a court order disqualifying him from acting in the company’s management, he used the names of others as directors of the company.

Case lawyer Ian Hatcher from the Insolvency Service said: “This case shows that the Criminal Enforcement Team of Insolvency Service will take action against those individuals who act as directors or are involved in the management of companies when they are not permitted to do so.

“Here, a disqualified director attempted to circumvent his ban by incorporating a company abroad and by using the names of others as directors of his British company.

“The Criminal Enforcement Team of Insolvency Service was alive to this, and took firm action.”

Kevin Young, SIA Partnerships and Investigations Manager, said: “Our investigation of Quinton’s business practices relating to the supply of security staff to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland, and other major sporting events, revealed a pattern of behaviour.

“Our investigators at the SIA actively seek to work with partners and the conviction of Michael Quinton shows the value of joint working and sharing of information between the Insolvency Service and Hampshire Police.”