A GWYNEDD builder escaped being banned as a company director despite pleading guilty to two breaches of the Insolvency Act.

John Gwilym Jones, 51, of Bryn Hedd, Mynytho, near Pwllheli, had run a limited company with similar names to one which had gone into liquidation, J and C Jones Building Contractors, which had debts of more than £700,000 in 2013.

The first name used was J and S Jones Building Contractors, then later Jones was omitted, but neither of these titles were acceptable, the court was told.

At Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Huw Rees was told by Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting, that similar-sounding titles could not be used for five years.

Mr Roberts said investigators from the Insolvency Service had written to Jones on three occasions about this. Jones’ accountant had replied to one warning, apologising for “an inadvertent breach”.

Jonathan Austin, defending, said Jones had 10 employees and another 10 subcontractors working for him. “Very satisfied customers have written to the court,” he pointed out.

Urging the judge to use his discretion and not disqualify him from being a director, Mr Austin said : “He’s learned his lesson.”

Judge Rees told Jones: “The mischief the legislation seeks to address is having people like you giving the impression that the company has carried on despite liquidation”.

However, the judge said disqualification would be “disproportionate” to the defendant’s personal future and the employment of people. He imposed a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work, and Jones must pay costs of £2,500.