A man who faked his own death and fled Scotland in a bid to escape justice after raping two women has been jailed for eight years.

Last month James Clacher was convicted on two charges relating to the rape of two women – which took place in August 2019 and September 2020.

He was reported missing from Airdrie in North Lanarkshire in May 2022, facing trial for rape at the time.

However, he was later traced in Spain and was extradited back to Scotland.

At the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, judge Lord Cubie sentenced the 57-year-old to eight years' imprisonment, with a further extended part of the sentence including two years on licence.

The sentence was backdated to the time of his arrest in Spain in May 2024.

Lord Cubie described his attempt to escape justice by going abroad as "cowardly".

Speaking after Clacher's conviction last month Detective Inspector Bruce Fyfe of Police Scotland said: “It’s difficult to comprehend the distress and suffering Clacher caused the women in this case. I hope this conviction brings them some form of comfort.

“He will now face the consequences of his actions.

“Following the missing person report, extensive inquiries were carried out to establish his whereabouts.”

“As the investigation into the missing person and sexual offences progressed, it became clear he had left the country to evade justice after faking his own death.

“We worked closely with our international law enforcement colleagues, including the National Crime Agency and Spanish police and the perpetrator was subject to extraditions proceedings.”