Convicted Shropshire travel company fraudster David Oakley, who has been on the run for more than four years, has been arrested in France.

Oakley, 62, now faces serving the three years and nine months jail sentence imposed in September for a series of deceptions.

His wife Amanda was also arrested after the couple were traced to the small town of Melle, in the Poitou-Charentes region.

They were picked up on Friday by gendarmes from Poitiers, where they are currently being held in custody. The Oakleys, formerly of Salters Lane, Shrewsbury, are due to appear before a local court later this week.

The move by the French authorities follows the issue of fresh European Arrest Warrants earlier this year.

Detective Constable Andy Denton, of West Mercia Police, said: “The arrest was confirmed by officials in France and the extradition process will now continue to return David Oakley to the UK to serve his sentence.”

Oakley’s trial in the UK had been due to start in March, 2005, but he had claimed “poor health” and was allowed bail and went to Spain.

Oakley continued to claim he was too ill to attend his trial, but the case was heard in his absence at Shrewsbury Crown Court last year.

Oakley eventually admitted his dishonesty involving the running of three holiday firms in breach of a directors’ disqualification order, fraudulent trading, obtaining money by deception, evading payment and using forged cheques.