Key facts
- US airman James Loubeau was accused of a spree of rapes and sexual assaults in England in 2019.
- Suffolk police transferred jurisdiction of the case to the US air force shortly after the initial allegations.
- Loubeau allegedly attacked six women in East Anglia over a four-month period.
- He was acquitted in a US military trial in 2020.
- Loubeau was convicted in Florida in 2025 for sexual assault, receiving a five-year prison sentence.
- Prosecutors used the English allegations to argue for Loubeau's risk to the public.
A US airman, James Loubeau, accused of a series of rapes and sexual assaults in England between April and July 2019, managed to avoid British justice after Suffolk police transferred jurisdiction to the US military. Loubeau allegedly drugged some women and broke into their homes, attacking a total of six women, including British civilians and US military personnel. The decision by Suffolk police to cede responsibility less than two weeks after the initial allegations by two British women has drawn scrutiny.
Under a 1951 agreement, the US military can claim jurisdiction over crimes involving its personnel, particularly if the victim is also a service member or if the accused was on duty. However, three of Loubeau's alleged victims were British civilians attacked while he was off-duty. Court documents suggest the women were driven to the RAF Mildenhall base, given drinks, and later woke up naked and confused, believing they had been raped.
Loubeau's military trial in 2020 resulted in an acquittal, though he was later discharged from the air force for minor infractions. It was not until 2025, following an FBI investigation that utilized DNA evidence, that Loubeau was convicted in Miami, Florida, for the sexual assault of a 19-year-old American servicewoman. Prosecutors highlighted the alleged spree in England as evidence of a "frightening and dangerous" pattern of behavior, arguing he believed he could act with impunity. He received a five-year prison sentence and will be supervised for two decades post-release due to the perceived risk he poses.
Suffolk police have stated they are reviewing their decision-making process regarding the transfer of primacy to the US air force. Cambridgeshire police, investigating a separate alleged assault by Loubeau, stated there was insufficient evidence to charge him, though they worked with the US air force. The US air force military police declined to comment on jurisdiction decisions, directing inquiries to Suffolk police.