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A rapist who faked his own death and fled to Spain has been locked up.

Former Army reservist James Clacher was reported missing from Airdrie in North Lanarkshire in May 2022 as he faced trial for the crime.

The 57-year-old tried to dupe authorities into thinking he was dead but was later traced to Spain and sent back to Scotland.

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Last month, he was convicted of two counts relating to the rape of two women – which took place in August 2019 and September 2020.

He was jailed for eight years, with a further extended part of the sentence including two years on licence, at the High Court in Edinburgh today, Wednesday, October 1.

The sentence was backdated to the time of his arres

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