Rapist James Clacher, who pretended to be dead and escaped to Spain to avoid punishment, has been sentenced to eight years in prison. Clacher, who simulated his death and fled the nation, was previously found guilty of assaulting two women after targeting them through dating platforms. These violent attacks occurred at the victims’ residences in 2019 and 2020.
The 57-year-old ex-fitness center manager vanished in May 2022 while dealing with the accusations. He was located in Spain and brought back to Scotland for trial.
Clacher was convicted of two rape charges following a court hearing at the High Court in Glasgow. Today, at the Edinburgh High Court, a judge handed him a 10-year extended sentence, with eight years behind bars and two on license.
Clacher is now banned from contacting the victims for ten years, and his name has been added to the sex offenders’ registry indefinitely, as reported by Sky News.
In May 2022, Clacher abandoned his Suzuki Swift at the Loch Long car park in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, leaving a suicide note to mislead authorities and the victims.
In the note, he shifted blame onto his initial victim, stating that she “will never stop until I’m dead or I’m in prison.”
He then hid in a secluded woodland, surviving on berries and puddle water. His disappearance sparked rumors of suicide, but Clacher was actually plotting his escape to Spain.
A tip received after a request from Police Scotland led to the pinpointing of the fugitive’s whereabouts in the Spanish town of Nerja, where he frequented the Time Sport gym.
Spanish authorities were informed, intensifying the search. Six months later, and almost two years after faking his death, Clacher was apprehended in Nerja and identified by his alias ‘Johnny Wilson’. He was reportedly in a relationship with a local woman and worked as a gardener at a residential area, offering yoga classes on the beach for extra income. Video footage captured his arrest by undercover officers during a workout session on the sand.
The footage, released by Spain’s Civil Guard, revealed that Clacher’s fitness routine led to his capture and arrest in Nerja, east of Malaga. Detective Constable Jamie Crossan, who accompanied him back to Scotland, mentioned that Clacher was talkative during the flight home.
He elaborated on his plan of faking his death, moving through Scotland and England, hiding in a truck to cross into France, and then cycling to Spain.
Clacher reportedly disclosed that he made acquaintances who helped him find work, accommodation, and even provided personal training. However, he grew paranoid about being recognized and considered escaping to Morocco by building a kayak.
During the trial, it was revealed that Clacher assaulted his first victim at her home on August 24, 2019. The victim testified that she was attacked shortly after meeting him for the first time. The second victim, who matched with Clacher on Bumble, said she was assaulted at her flat in Glasgow on September 4, 2020, after a visit to Irvine Beach in Ayrshire.
In his statement, presiding judge, Lord Cubie, noted the “striking” similarities between the two assaults, highlighting Clacher’s attempt to shift blame onto the victims and coerce them into retracting their accusations.
The judge mentioned, “Although occurring a year apart, the similarities are notable; you used a dating app; you lied about your age; you arrived earlier than agreed; you assaulted the victims in their homes. The attacks caught the victims off guard; they were unsure how to react. You tried to blame the victims.”
Lord Cubie added that when confronted by the first victim, Clacher claimed his “brother had fallen ill” to manipulate and divert attention. “A year later, you repeated the pattern. I suspect you believed the situation had calmed down, and you had escaped accountability from the initial assault. The second victim was also assaulted in her home, disregarding her expressed wishes. Her objections meant nothing to you.”
“Based on the evidence available, you are evidently capable of contributing positively to society if you choose to do so. However, you opted to misuse your abilities for selfish purposes, fulfilling your own desires and manipulating circumstances to exert control in your favor.
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