A man convicted of violent rapes after attempting to fake his own death and evade authorities by living off wild berries in the wilderness has been apprehended and brought to justice.
James Clacher, aged 57, was found guilty in Glasgow’s High Court of raping two women. He disappeared while facing charges and left a suicide note at Loch Long car park in Scotland, blaming his first victim for his actions.
Clacher evaded capture by hiding in a remote woodland, claiming to survive on berries and puddle water. Following a tip-off, Scottish police located him in Nerja, Spain, where he was arrested at a gym after almost two years on the run.
Under the alias ‘Johnny Wilson’, Clacher had been living a dual life in Spain, working as a gardener and offering yoga classes on the beach. He was captured during a workout session on the Costa del Sol resort, thanks to increased collaboration between Scottish and Spanish authorities.
During his return to Scotland, Clacher confessed to fabricating his death, traveling through various countries, and considering risky escape plans to Morocco. The court heard harrowing details of his assaults on the victims, one of whom he raped within minutes of meeting her.
Clacher’s capture in Spain was a result of his active lifestyle and frequenting the gym, ultimately leading to his arrest and extradition back to face justice.