Fugitive rapist held in France

Fugitive rapist Trevor Masters was today in custody in France after 10 months on the run.

Masters was caught in Pau, south west France, after an international manhunt successfully tracked him down by checking cash withdrawals made abroad.

Gwent police, in south Wales, teamed up with Interpol and the National Criminal Intelligence Agency to narrow down the hunt to south west France.

Delighted Gwent police chiefs said today that Masters’ victims had shed ‘‘tears of relief’’ on hearing he had finally been caught.

Masters jumped bail at Cardiff Crown Court last August as the jury deliberated over 14 alleged attacks on women and girls across Britain.

During the three week trial the 48-year-old, originally from Blaenavon, Gwent, denied preying on women and girls over a 20-year period.

He was convicted of rape, three counts of causing actual bodily harm to a woman, two indecent assaults and two attempted serious sexual offences against a child.

He was also found guilty of indecently assaulting a girl when she was under the age of 16.

Judge Griffith Williams imposed a news blackout on Masters’ escape in an attempt to prevent the jury’s deliberations becoming prejudiced.

The decision to grant him bail was attacked at the time by Tory shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe.

While Masters was on the run British tourists reported seeing him on the Costa Del Sol, Spain, and at locations all over France.

Detective Inspector Mike Jones, who led the hunt for Masters, said today: ‘‘I can’t hide my delight at this news. His victims shed tears of relief when I told them he’d been captured.

‘‘I can only thank the media and the public for their help over the last few months. Now we can bring this dangerous and violent man to justice.’’

A Gwent police spokesman said the hunt for Masters had targeted south west France after cash withdrawals and other confidential information was checked.

‘‘The French police were issued with a photograph of Masters and his fingerprints which enabled them to arrest him on Friday,’’ a spokesman said.

Masters will stay in France for the next few days until a decision is reached on whether he will be brought straight back to the UK to be sentenced or have to be extradited.