Parent of boy sexually assaulted on campsite saw attacker

The assault took place at the camp site in Drumnadrochit

One of the parents of an eight-year-old boy who was sexually assaulted while camping in the Highlands saw the suspect leaving the area, Police Scotland have confirmed.

Police said the child was sleeping in a tent on his own, at the Loch Ness Bay campsite in Drumnadrochit, when the assault happened between 12:20 and 01:00 in the early hours of Thursday.

The boy's parents, who were were in a separate tent nearby, saw the man and raised the alarm. The suspect is described as white, aged 30 to 50, about 5ft 10ins tall and bald on top.

Police said the incident has been "hugely traumatising for the child and his family - and naturally worrying to the community".

Police Scotland say there will be a large operation at the camp

During a media briefing in Inverness, officers confirmed that the family were tourists on holiday in the area.

It is not known if the attacker was staying on the campsite but police have not ruled out that line of inquiry.

They said one of the boy's parents became aware of the incident and witnessed the suspect leaving the area.

Det Supt Smith said: "One of the parents has come out from where they were sleeping and has seen the assailant leaving the area - and that's part of the reason we have got the description that we have."

The detective said: "I'm not going to go into details of the assault but it was a sexual assault on an eight-year-old child, hugely traumatising on the child, hugely traumatising on the family and naturally worrying to the community.

"This is very unusual for this to happen in the Highlands."

Det Supt Smith said dedicated team of 10 to 12 officers, both uniform and plain-clothed, were involved in the investigation.

This included reviewing "all available" CCTV footage, he said.

Police also urged anyone who was staying in the Drumnadrochit area to come forward, as any piece of information, could prove vital.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland.

Local councillor David Fraser told BBC Scotland News the attack was "totally shocking" and had "affected the whole community".

He said: "Drumnadrochit is a small highland community on the banks of Loch Ness and things like this don't usually happen here.

"It is a small, close-knit community, we welcome visitors all the time. We are completely shocked that something like this could happen within our village.

"Words cannot describe the impact this event will have had."