A POLISH tractor thief who was caught acting suspiciously in an Oxfordshire field is to be extradited to his homeland.

Konrad Szeflerski, 28, who works as a horse groom in the UK, has a year in jail awaiting him on his return for the 12-year-old offence.

Rebecca Hill, for the Polish authorities, told City of Westminster Magistrates' Court the Pole was convicted of selling the £1,000 machine after a farmer lent it to him.

He had already moved to this country by the time of the trial and lives with his wife and child at Alden Farm Cottages, Aldens Lane, in Upton, near Didcot.

The court heard police spotted him at the wheel of a car in the middle of a field on Sunday, November 23.

He was doing nothing illegal, but when officers checked his name they found there was a warrant for his arrest.

Szeflerski yesterday consented to his extradition, claiming he was told his prison sentence had been suspended.

District Judge Quentin Purdy ordered his extradition on stringent bail conditions.

He said: "If you fail to surrender a warrant will be issued for your arrest and the security money will not be returned an you will be unlawfully at large in this jurisdiction."