COMPANIES found guilty of corporate manslaughter, injuring staff or causing health risks face paying higher penalties under a new sentencing regime announced yesterday.

Large firms could be forced to pay up to £20 million — or an amount “fair and proportionate to the seriousness of the offence and the means of offenders” — according to the Sentencing Council.

Judges in England and Wales are now able to hand down fines of £50 to £10m for health and safety breaches, £180,000 to £20m for corporate manslaughter; and £100 to £3m for food safety and hygiene offences.

Car company Diamond Wheels in Dundee was fined just £50,000 on Friday after 33-year-old Steven Conway, who was given on-the-job training, died after inhaling fumes when cleaning a chemical tank.