A Carshalton man exposed as a war criminal after being arrested for shoplifting has praised the British justice system for not sending him back to his native Croatia.

Milan Spanovic, 44, of Stoneleigh Road, emerged victorious from an extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The Croatian Government lost its bid to extradite him back to Croatia where he was sentenced for 20 years for war crimes including firing on unarmed civilians, looting and arson.

Mr Spanovic's counsel, Julian Atlee, said outside the court: "My client came to the UK in 1998 because he had faith in the English system of justice. He has always cooperated fully with that system and he believes that in its judgement today, the English court has recognised the history of the case."

Mr Spanovic was convicted in his absence in 1993 for crimes committed during civil war in the former Yugoslavia.

A warrant for his arrest was issued in 1995 and he left Croatia and came to the UK with his wife and child in November 1998.

Computer checks following his arrest and caution for shoplifting from Debenhams in Sutton on June 13, 2006, led to extradition proceedings against him.

In his judgement on Tuesday however, Judge Timothy Workman said Mr Spanovic never tried to hide his whereabouts and always cooperated fully with the authorities while trying to resolve his immigration status.

Judge Workman said: "In October 2000, the defendant was granted exceptional leave to enter the United Kingdom for a period of four years. In 2000 that was further extended by the grant of indefinite leave to remain."

The Croatian Government intends to appeal against the decision.