Renewed efforts to get Shropshire businessman David Oakley back from Spain were launched today after he was jailed for cheating customers and creditors of his holiday companies.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday Oakley was given a total of three years and nine months in prison. In addition Oakley, 62, was given a further 10-year ban from being a company director.

The jury took 20 minutes to find him guilty of 12 charges including fraud, deception and forgery.

These included obtaining £15,000 from Adrian Ramian by deception by claiming the money was to be invested in a holiday resort in Antigua.

He was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice by giving false evidence in a civil case to prevent his Shrewsbury home being repossessed.

Oakley, formerly of Salters Lane, Shrewsbury, was not in the dock. His trial was heard in his absence.

During the trial no reason was given for Oakley’s absence, but afterwards it was revealed he had absconded to Spain three years ago and had exploited health problems to avoid facing his accusers.

Recorder Denis Desmond said Oakley had taken £100,000 out of the companies he set up in breach of his directors’ ban which was imposed in 1997 for similar fraud offences. Customers lost £70,000 and creditors lost £30,000.

Detective Constable Andy Denton said he was pleased the victims now had closure and “every effort will now be made to bring David Oakley back to the UK to serve his sentence.”