Shropshire conman David Oakley, who has been on the run from the UK courts for four years, remains in custody in France following a brief court appearance before a judge in Poitiers yesterday.

The 62-year-old convicted fraudster appeared for a preliminary extradition hearing, which was adjourned until next week.

There were reports on Monday that Oakley had complained of feeling unwell and was examined by hospital doctors, but was deemed fit enough to attend court.

Oakley has previously claimed ill health prevented him travelling back to the UK to face his trial, which was finally held in his absence last September.

He was convicted of a series of frauds and deceptions involving travel companies and was jailed for a total of three years and nine months. He is expected to be sent straight to prison to serve the sentence on his return to the UK.

A woman, believed to be Oakley’s wife, Amanda, also appeared before the French court for extradition proceedings linked to allegations of obtaining money by deception.

The extradition hearings are due to be resumed at the Court of Appeal in Poitiers on Tuesday. Oakley and the woman remain in custody.

Both had been arrested by the French authorities in the small town of Melle in the Poitou-Charentes region on Friday last week.

West Mercia police had been aware that Oakley had been travelling north to France from his bolt-hole in the Costa Blanca area of Spain.