Man accused of sexually assaulting boy at campsite dies in jail

Police were told the boy was approached in his tent at the Loch Ness Bay campsite in Drumnadrochit

A man who was accused of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old boy at a campsite in the Highlands has died in prison.

John Bell, 44, was charged over the incident at the Loch Ness Bay campsite in Drumnadrochit. Police were told the boy was approached inside his tent between 00:20 and 01:00 on 31 July.

Mr Bell was remanded in custody at HMP Inverness after appearing in court in September, where he made no plea.

The BBC understands he died in his cell on Saturday. Police Scotland said there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

A fatal accident inquiry will be held in due course.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) added: "Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual."

Asked if Mr Bell had taken his own life, the SPS said it did not comment on cause of death.

A spokesperson added that a medical certificate would be available on its website at a later date.

The boy and his family were tourists on holiday in the area when the attack happened over the summer.

He was sleeping in a tent on his own. His father, who was in a separate tent nearby, saw a man walking away from his son's tent and phoned police.

When the father asked the man what he was doing, the suspect spoke back and then walked off.

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