James Clacher trial: Rape suspect ‘staged own death and survived on berries and puddle water in the wild before fleeing UK for Spain’

A rape suspect reportedly staged his own death and survived on berries and puddle water in the wild before fleeing the UK for Spain, a court has heard.

James Clacher, 57, is on trial accused of raping two women – one in Troon, South Ayrshire, in 2019 and the other in Glasgow in 2020.

Clacher has pleaded not guilty to the two charges of rape. He has lodged a special defence, claiming any sex was consensual.

While facing court proceedings for the two charges, the former gym boss was reported missing on 31 May 2022.

His Suzuki Swift was found later that day abandoned at the Loch Long car park and picnic area in Argyll and Bute.

Sergeant Craig Brown told the High Court in Glasgow on Monday that a suicide note was recovered from Clacher’s car, along with his driving licence and two destroyed bank cards.

The handwritten note, signed by Clacher, intimated that he was going to take his own life.

Clacher said he was not “ending” things due to the allegations, but instead because of the “pain and suffering” caused to his family.

He blamed his first alleged victim, stating that she “will never stop until I’m dead or I’m in prison”.

Police launched a hunt, believing the accused to be wild camping in the surrounding hills.

They were supported in the search by a dog unit, with officers also carrying out door-to-door enquiries at nearby businesses.

Information was said to have been received that led to Clacher’s eventual capture in Nerja, Spain, two years later.

The court was told he had “embedded himself in the community”.

Jurors were shown footage of him being arrested on a beach in the Costa del Sol town in May 2024.

Detective Constable Jamie Crossan travelled with Clacher as he was extradited to Scotland the following month.

DC Crossan said Clacher was “very friendly and chatty” on the flight home.

He was said to have “discussed how he staged his own death” and told of how he “survived on berries and puddle water” while initially on the run.

DC Crossan said Clacher admitted first travelling to Inverness, then down the east coast of Scotland. He was then said to have made his way to England before hiding in a truck to get into France.

Once in France, he then said he got his hands on a bike and cycled to Spain.

Clacher reportedly told the Police Scotland officer that he befriended a local gentleman who assisted him in obtaining work and housing.

During his time in Nerja, Clacher was said to have gone to a local gym and got involved in personal training.

While speaking to DC Crossan, Clacher reportedly revealed that he became fearful that his face was becoming known locally, so he considered building a kayak that he would paddle to Morocco.

Read more from the trial:
Day one testimony
Day two testimony
Day three testimony

Jurors heard that Clacher disappeared after learning he was to be interviewed over two new sexual offence allegations in addition to the rape charges.

Jurors previously heard evidence from two other women who claimed Clacher inappropriately touched them without their consent at Church Gym Wellness and Fitness Centre in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire.

Clacher was due to discuss those accusations at a police station on the day he vanished.

The court heard from a number of Clacher’s friends, his ex-girlfriend and father.

Long-time friends Alan Cairns and John Wilson testified that they received text messages on the morning Clacher went missing, which were said to be out of character.

In one message, Clacher said: “Today is the day I take one last breath.”

Although Clacher was known to practice holding his breath underwater, Mr Wilson said: “I panicked a little bit.”

Believing his friend was about to take his own life, Mr Wilson called Clacher’s father and told him to alert the police.

The court also heard how Clacher had discussed booking a holiday to Spain with Mr Wilson and another friend.

In the lead up to him disappearing, the defendant was said to have asked Mr Wilson to bring his passport to the gym.

Mr Wilson testified that Clacher’s demeanour had deteriorated due to the allegations he was facing, but said in a statement to police at the time he went missing: “His mood was more upbeat than what it had been over the last few weeks.”

Ex-partner Zoe Taylor, who dated Clacher for about four years on and off up to the time he vanished, testified that his mental health had deteriorated “massively”.

She agreed with defence advocate Gail Gianni that he was “crying all the time”.

Jurors heard how the defendant went hiking and camping most weekends in a bid to boost his mental health.

The day before Clacher went missing, the couple had spent the evening at a caravan near to Loch Lomond.

Ms Taylor said Clacher dropped her off at work the following morning and sent messages later on, saying how much he “loved” her.

She said none of the messages from the accused gave her any cause for concern.

Ms Taylor told the court that she didn’t hear from him again.

Clacher’s father, also named James Clacher, said he was prompted to alert police to his son’s disappearance after his friends raised concerns.

Mr Clacher said he managed to speak to his son on the phone, with the accused reportedly saying: “Dad, I don’t know how to handle this.”

Mr Clacher said: “He asked me to be strong. He basically said he couldn’t take it anymore.”

Mr Clacher testified that his son told him that he did not intend to take his own life.

A will was said to have been recovered from Clacher’s gym.

Jurors heard how a total of £5,500 was withdrawn from a business bank account the day before Clacher went missing.

Mr Clacher and his son were the only two people with access to the account, with the accused’s father testifying he was not behind the £5,000 and £500 withdrawals.

The trial, before judge Lord Cubie, will continue on Tuesday.