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Man arrested after boy, 8, sexually assaulted in tent at Loch Ness campsite

Police seized more than 1,500 hours of CCTV footage and visited almost 100 properties in an extensive enquiry

A 44-year-old man was arrested
A 44-year-old man was arrested (PA Wire)

A 44-year-old man has been arrested after an eight-year-old boy was sexually assaulted in his tent at a campsite on Loch Ness.

It follows an extensive enquiry as police seized more than 1,500 hours of CCTV footage and visited almost 100 properties as part of their investigation.

Officers received a report that the child was approached in his tent during the incident at the Loch Ness Bay campsite, near Drumnadrochit, Highland, between 12.20am and 1am on July 31, police said.

The boy’s family was in a tent next to him and police previously said that the child’s father overheard the incident and saw the suspect walk away from his son’s tent.

The campsite is located on the banks of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands
The campsite is located on the banks of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands (Yui Mok/PA Archive)

The child was reportedly left “traumatised and upset” by the incident.

Inquiries are ongoing following the arrest and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, the force said.

Detective Superintendent Calum Smith said: “We would like to thank the local community for their support during our investigation, in particular local businesses and those who came forward with information.”

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