RAPIST Trevor Masters - fighting extradition from France to Britain - has been granted leave to seek bail.

The convicted rapist, 48, from Blaenavon, went on the run from Cardiff crown court in August 2000 while on bail, as a jury deliberated its verdict.

He was later given a 12-year sentence in his absence for a number of sex attacks on women and young girls.

Masters was eventually traced by Interpol to the town of Pau in the French Pyrenees, and extradition proceedings began.

At that time, the chairman of the magistrates, Henri Suquet, told Masters he could appeal to the Cours de Cassation in Paris - but if he did not appeal, or if the appeal was turned down, at that moment the French government would take the decree to extradite.

After the extradition ruling on October 26, Masters' lawyer Claude Garcia said he would be taking the case to the Court of Appeal in Paris, a move which could take up to eight months.

If this fails, Masters, who claims he is innocent, will take it to the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and ultimately the case could go to the Conseil D'Etat in Paris - meaning the whole process could take a year.

The Court Of Appeal this week agreed to hear a bail application on behalf of Masters, who is currently in custody.

Detective Inspector Mike Jones, of Pontypool CID, said: "We do feel frustrated that it has gone on so long and his victims would have hoped to have put this matter behind them now."