A COMPANY director was disqualified for ten years by Durham County Court yesterday, because of his misconduct in relation to four failed firms.

Ralph William Shaw, of Eden Grove, Middridge, Shildon, was banned as a result of his misconduct as a director of four haulage and distribution businesses.

His company Shaw of County Durham Ltd, based on the Hackworth Trading Estate, in Shildon, went into liquidation in February 1999.

The court found that there were tax irregularities in relation to Shaw, and that the company had not kept proper accounts or documentation of transactions with five other associated companies.

It also took into account Mr Shaw's conduct as a director of three further failed haulage companies - Sortace Ltd, Oakesway Distribution Ltd and Longhill Distribution Ltd.

In the case of these, the court found that Shaw had allowed Sortace to trade while insolvent and allowed Oakesway and Longhill to trade to the detriment of the Crown.

Also, he had failed to document the transactions between these three companies and Shaw.