A property developer was fined £100,000 after a father of nine was crushed to death in a basement excavation.

Nadeem Aftab, 47, of Nuffield Road, Oxford, was also ordered to pay more than £60,000 costs after admitting a breach of health and safety law.

Brazilian-born Arlindo Visentin, 58, died after the accident in Wilton Row, Belgravia, central London, in June 2007.

Mr Visentin was working in an excavation on the site to underpin the foundations when a crack appeared in the ground and part of the building fell on him.

Fellow workers shouted warnings but it was too late. They dug him out but he had suffered severe crush injuries and died that evening.

When his boss Aftab, who was contracted to carry out the work, arrived, he did not call an ambulance and instead Mr Visentin was driven to hospital in a car.

The Old Bailey heard that the defendant had previously failed to respond to advice from structural engineers, did not put in proper safety features, and that after the accident diverted blame from himself.

Prosecutors voiced concerns about other projects he had been involved in when he demonstrated lack of awareness about safety.

Judge Paul Worsley said: "This tragedy was wholly avoidable. It is the fault of Mr Aftab and it will be on his conscience."

He said Mr Visentin's family had struggled to come to terms with his death.

"His large family very much miss him and all that he has done to support them, coming to this country to improve his and their way of life."

Chappell, of the Health and Safety Executive, said: "Mr Visentin spoke very little English and did not share a common language with any of the other workers or with Mr Aftab.

"This incident highlights the need to have effective worker consultation and communication with all employees to ensure they understand the control measures that should be in place to prevent harm.

"Basement conversions involving underpinning are significant engineering projects and should be planned and managed by competent people."