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Ian Kerr, the private detective who operated a blacklist of construction workers used by construction companies to vet staff, will face trial and the possibility of an unlimited fine in the Crown Court.

Kerr pleaded guilty to contravening the Data Protection Act but failed to attend a hearing at Macclesfield Magistrates Court earlier today.

Magistrates decided against sentencing him insisting that the maximum fine of 拢5,000 they could impose was 鈥渨holly inadequate鈥� and passed the case to the Crown Court.

Kerr, who operated the database through his company the Consulting Association, now faces an unlimited fine in the higher court.

Earlier this month the Information Commissioner鈥檚 Office warned it had not ruled out prosecuting construction firms who bought information about workers from Kerr鈥檚 database.

Companies that paid to use Kerr鈥檚 database include Balfour Beatty, Sir Robert McAlpine, Costain, Laing O'Rourke and Skanska.

Kerr is charged with failing to notify the Information Commissioner that he was controlling a database containing personal information about individuals.

The database, which was used by around 40 construction companies, was sold on a subscription basis for an annual fee of 拢3,000. Data on each individual worker cost firms an additional 拢2.20.

The ICO raided Kerr鈥檚 Droitwich offices in February and seized invoices for up to 拢7,500 from major construction firms.

Kerr鈥檚 database was found to have details of 3,231 construction workers, mostly electricians, although it has since emerged that much of the information about individuals was inaccurate.

The raid on Kerr鈥檚 offices followed an earlier raid on an M&E contractor.

Since the ICO raid the Consulting Association, has ceased trading.