OASIS AUDREY FACES EXTRADITION TO SPAIN

British estate agent bailed by Westminster magistrate

THE NOTORIOUS former owner of the now-defunct estate agency Oasis Spanish Property has been arrested in the UK and faces extradition to Spain.

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed to CBNews that a European Arrest Warrant had been issued by a Spanish judicial authority over an alleged fraud committed by Audrey Dixon in Spain.

Ms Dixon, who also operates under the name Elizabeth Crozier, owned Oasis Spanish Property - one of the best-known British estate agencies on the Costas at the beginning of the last decade, with offices in Tor- revieja, Benidorm, Mojácar and later Puerto Banús.

The Gateshead-born realtor had been accused by clients of defrauding up to €2.5 million from around 25 buyers who handed over cash for properties that they never received.

Ms Dixon faced legal action in Spain over the missing money.

She was arrested by the Guardia Civil in 2005 after a judge issued a search and capture warrant following a string of missed court appearances.

Now the Spanish authorities want to question Ms Dixon again over an alleged fraud committed in 2003.

A security forces source in the UK told CBNews that the 56 year old was arrested on July 12 in Durham and delivered to Westminster magistrates’ court the following day, where she was remanded on bail.

The source noted that she is not permitted to be in possession of any international travel documents until her next court appearance.

The CPS spokesman explained that this will be on August 3 for a case management hearing at Westminster – the only extradition court in the country.

“The actual extradition hearing is listed for August 31,” he said.

The security forces source added: “This is just to determine the extradition, not the fraud case itself, which will be heard in Spanish courts.”

A number of Oasis Spanish Property buyers made com- plaints to the courts in Spain over the money they lost.

Ms Dixon had blamed other directors for the problems in her company, stating that the estate agency was in good health before she left the Costa Blanca to set up an office on the Costa del Sol.

However, her employees told CBNews a different story.

One staff member said: “We first started feeling something was wrong in September, 2003 when she moved to Marbella to set up the office in Puerto Banús.

“Clients had paid the money but she made excuses as to why they couldn’t move in.”

A number of clients spoke to CBNews of their experiences with the company.

Jean Lund and wheelchairbound husband Brian planned to retire to Torrevieja from Hartlepool but their plans were dashed after the €53,000 they handed to Oasis Spanish Property disappeared and the deal for their home was never completed.

Graham and Sonia Higginson from Bournemouth paid €143,000 for a resale property in Garrucha, Almería but found out later that that their money was not passed on to the owners.