Tinder Rapist Who Faked Death and Fled to Spain Jailed for Eight Years
James Clacher, 57, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of raping two women he met on dating apps. He also faked his own death and fled to Spain to evade justice. The sentencing took place at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
Details of the Crimes
Clacher, a former gym boss from Airdrie in North Lanarkshire, used dating apps like Tinder and Bumble to target his victims. He attacked them in their own homes in 2019 and 2020. The court heard harrowing accounts from the victims detailing the assaults.
One victim, a 46-year-old mother, met Clacher on Tinder. She testified that she was attacked within 15 minutes of him arriving at her home in Ayrshire in August 2019. She described being grabbed, pushed against a wall, sexually assaulted, and then raped in her bedroom.
A second woman, whom he met on Bumble, was attacked at her home in Glasgow in September 2020. After a date involving food and a walk on the beach, they returned to her flat. The woman stated that after removing some clothing, she made it clear she did not want to have sex, but Clacher proceeded to rape her.
Elaborate Scheme to Evade Justice
Facing trial for rape, Clacher was reported missing in May 2022. He abandoned his car, a Suzuki Swift, at Loch Long in Argyll and Bute, leaving a suicide note in an attempt to convince authorities that he had taken his own life.
However, police launched an appeal to locate him, and he was eventually traced to Nerja on the Costa del Sol in Spain. A tip-off from a Sky News viewer led police to his whereabouts. The Spanish Civil Guard arrested him while he was exercising on a beach.
During his time in Spain, Clacher lived under a false identity and befriended other British expatriates. He worked as a gardener, personal trainer, and yoga instructor. He even went by the alias “Johnny Wilson”.
Sentencing and Remarks
Judge Lord Cubie described Clacher's attempt to escape justice as “cowardly”. He highlighted the "striking similarities" between the two rape cases and emphasized the devastating impact on the victims. Lord Cubie also stated that Clacher exploited his survival experience, gained as an Army reservist, to evade capture.
Lord Cubie handed down an eight-year prison sentence, backdated to his arrest in Spain in May 2024, and a further extended sentence including two years on license. He also imposed non-harassment orders on Clacher, prohibiting him from contacting his victims, and placed him on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Prosecutor Fiona Kirkby commended the victims for their bravery in reporting the crimes. Detective Inspector Bruce Fyfe emphasized the commitment of law enforcement to pursuing those who try to evade prosecution, “no matter where they go.”
After being found in Spain, Clacher described to police how he had survived in the wild on “berries and puddle water” before leaving the UK.
Victim Impact and Community Response
The judge noted that the impact statements from the victims were powerful, detailing the long-term consequences, including loss of self-esteem, destruction of family relationships, trust issues, and employment difficulties. The effects were described as "devastating," leaving the victims "broken."
Fellow expat Matt, who befriended Clacher in Spain, expressed shock and disbelief upon learning of his friend's true identity. Locals in Nerja described Clacher, known as “Johnny,” as an amiable man who put others at ease.
