Twisted Tinder rapist finally caught after faking his own death and living off puddle water - The Mirror

James Clacher spent two years on the run attempting to escape justice for his violent sexual crimes against women. Here's how the law finally caught up with the Tinder rapist

A former gym boss who staged his own death before fleeing the country has been found guilty of raping two women.

James Clacher, 57, used dating sites to prey on his victims, raping them in their homes in Troon, South Ayrshire in 2019 and Glasgow in 2020. He went missing in May 2022 while facing charges, dumping his car in a car park and leaving a note suggesting he planned to end his own life.

Last seen in Airdrie, Scotland, on May 30 that year, the rapist instead fled to Spain in a bid to escape justice, where he spent two years on the run.

When Clacher's Suzuki Swift car was found abandoned at Loch Long car park in Argyll and Bute, his handwritten "suicide note", which was found alongside his driving licence and two destroyed bank cards, contained claims he was not "ending" things because of the allegations but due to the "pain and suffering" caused to his family. He even blamed his first victim, saying she "will never stop until I'm dead or I'm in prison".

But police were determined to catch up with the violent offender, issuing a warrant for his arrest and launching a major hunt in the area he disappeared, believing he was wild camping in the hills. A dog unit was deployed and officers carried out door-to-door checks at local businesses but Clacher had vanished.

By November 2023, the former gym boss was the subject of a missing person's appeal as the trail grew cold. But two years later, dramatic footage released by Spain's Civil Guard caught the moment Clacher was finally arrested on a beach in Nerja, Spain, as he was working out. Plain-clothed police officers were shown pinning the rapist down on the sand, before letting him put a t-shirt on and taking him to the police station for a mugshot and fingerprints.

On his flight back home, Clacher described in detail to Detective Constable Jamie Crossan how he had faked his own death, first moving from Inverness down Scotland's east coast. He recounted how he survived on "berries and puddle water" in his early days "at large". The criminal then crossed into England and hid in a truck to reach France, claiming he then cycled to Spain.

Glasgow High Court heard Clacher had "embedded himself in the community" in the Costa del Sol tourist resort after faking his own death. He reportedly told police he befriended a local man who helped him secure cash-in-hand work and housing. Working as a gardener, yoga instructor and personal trainer, he kept up his passion for fitness by joining a gym.

Clacher's raised profile led to a tip to the British National Crime Agency that Clacher could be living in Nerja, with surveillance subsequently tracking him down. Aware his face was becoming too well known, Clacher told the detective he had considered building a kayak to paddle across the sea to Morocco.

Clacher was alleged to have dropped 10 years off his age on Tinder and Bumble before preying on his victims. Friends giving evidence at his trial described unusual text messages on the day he went missing, with one saying he had recently discussed booking a holiday to Spain. His ex-partner said his mental health had deteriorated, though he spent weekends hiking and camping.

Jurors heard that the sex offender disappeared after learning he was to be interviewed over two further sexual offence allegations, in addition to existing rape charges. The court was told that two women had previously accused him of inappropriate touching at a gym in Airdrie.

His father told the court he contacted police after friends raised concerns, recalling he saying he could not cope. A will was later recovered from his gym and £5,500 was withdrawn from a business bank account the day before his disappearance.

Clacher was convicted of two rape charges following the trial in Glasgow. He was sentenced to eight years in prison earlier today.