A CONVICTED rapist who escaped to France during his trial is finally being brought back to Britain to face justice.

Worcestershire-born Trevor Masters fled across the channel in August 2000 while he was being tried at Cardiff Crown Court for nine separate sexual and violent assaults on women.

The 50-year-old, who had lived in Kington, Herefordshire, escaped while the jury was considering its verdict.

He was found guilty in his absence and sentenced to 12 years in jail.

Masters, who was found in the French town of Pau in summer 2001, after nearly a year on the run, lost a long-running extradition battle last month.

Three Gwent police officers will bring the fugitive back from France on Thursday, March 20.

And he will be formally sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court the following day and his 12-year sentence could be extended for jumping bail.

Det Insp Mike Jones said Gwent Police was "delighted" that Masters, now of Blaenavon, South Wales, was returning.

"It has been a long saga - his victims and their families will be pleased to see him behind bars in this country, where he belongs," he said.

Master was convicted of rape, three charges of actual bodily harm, three indecent assaults and two attempted serious sexual offences against a woman and two children.

At an earlier hearing in Pau, his lawyer, Claude Garcia, revealed that he intended to appeal against his conviction if he was forced to return to Wales.

He also planned to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.