Police are hunting for a man who allegedly went into an eight-year-old boy’s tent on the banks of the Loch Ness in Scotland and sexually assaulted him.
The boy was camping in his own tent at Loch Ness Bay Campsite, in Drumnadrochit while his parents were in a separate tent next to him.
Sometime between 12.20am and 1am on Thursday, July 31 the man is said to have gone into the tent and sexually assaulted the boy.
Police said the parents became suspicious something had happened when one of them came out of their tent and spotted a man leaving the area.
The suspect is described as a white man, aged between 35 and 50 years old, around 5ft 10ins tall and bald.
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Extensive enquiries are ongoing, and specialist officers are supporting the boy and his family.
At a media briefing in Inverness, Detective Superintendent Calum Smith from Police Scotland 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.
‘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.’
Earlier Detective Inspector Christopher Macleod said: ‘A dedicated team of officers are carrying out investigations and it is vital we trace the man responsible as soon as possible.
‘I would urge anyone with information to come forward. If you were within the campsite or the surrounding area yesterday evening and noticed anything or anyone suspicious, please contact us.
‘There will be a significant police presence in the area while the investigation is ongoing.
‘Please approach officers if you have any concerns or information or call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 0167 of 31 July, 2025.
‘You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’
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.
‘Words cannot describe the impact this event will have had.’
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