8yo boy sexually assaulted in tent while on family camping holiday in Scotland
They said the suspect fled into the darkness after the child's 'distress' wakened his dad at the beauty spot on the shores of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, The Sun reports.
A senior officer said the sickening assault in the early hours of Thursday (local time) had been 'hugely traumatising' for the boy and his family, who were tourists on holiday in the area.
Detective Superintendent Calum Smith told of suspicions the suspect had been watching the kid before pouncing at Loch Ness Bay campsite in Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire, as the youngster's parents slept in a tent next to him.
During a press conference in Inverness, he said: 'Given the nature of this, there is a suspicion there was an element of observation and planning from the culprit in terms of someone who might have been hanging around that area for a time in the run-up to it.'
Describing the incident, Det Supt Smith said: 'The distress of the child was overheard by his father. His father came out of his tent and saw the man leaving his son's tent.
'He fled on foot. The person may have been on the campsite or may have come on to the campsite shortly beforehand.
'We have no knowledge of where he went after the campsite. He was last seen walking away into the darkness and wasn't seen again after that.'
The suspect is described as white, bald, around 5ft 10ins and aged between 30 and 50.
Appealing for help to trace the suspect, Det Supt Smith went on: 'I'd ask people to think back — have they seen anyone acting suspiciously beforehand or immediately afterwards?
'Are they aware of people in the area who wouldn't have been there normally and who may fit the description of the suspect? Or do they have information to tell us about?'
He added: 'It is very, very unusual for this to happen in the Highlands.
'The family are visitors to the area on a camping holiday.'
The horror attack, between 12.20am and 1am on Thursday, shocked locals in the scenic area, close to Urquhart Castle.
There was a significant police presence around the campsite. Det Supt Smith said a team of around a dozen officers were involved in the investigation.
This includes reviewing 'all available' CCTV footage.
Detectives and uniformed officers are also quizzing other campers and urged anyone staying in the Drumnadrochit area to come forward.
Craig Jones, 40, a bar supervisor at the nearby Loch Ness Inn, said: 'We shut up on Wednesday night at 11pm and I walked home just after that.
'I didn't see anything suspicious or unusual. The police came in the following morning to speak to staff.
'We've not had anyone unusual hanging about here. But you do get a lot of hitchhikers at this time of year.'
Blair Mackay, 55, who was in the bar on Wednesday night, added: 'I walked home about 9.30pm and saw nothing.
'Nobody has a clue who this man could be.
'I just hope that the poor wee boy is okay.'
Local councillor David Fraser said the attack had 'shocked' the community in Drumnadrochit.
He told BBC Scotland News: 'Words cannot describe the impact this event will have had.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
23 minutes ago
- ABC News
Jennifer Mui Len Chin, who stabbed teen daughter's boyfriend, was 'trying to protect family'
A mother who stabbed her teenage daughter's secret boyfriend after finding him semi-naked in her home wanted to protect her kids at "whatever cost" from someone she thought may have been armed, a Perth court has heard. Jennifer Mui Len Chin is on trial in the District Court. accused of causing bodily harm to the teenager, who was aged 14 in 2023. The court heard Ms Chin's 14-year-old daughter had invited the teenager to the home and they had sex in the father's bedroom, but when Ms Chin found the boy, she chased him and stabbed him in the chest and shoulders. Ms Chin said she was "panicking" when she discovered him under the covers in her husband's bedroom and thought he was naked. Taking the stand, she described how she noticed the door to the bedroom was closed, and this was "unusual". The 49-year-old said she assumed her daughter was inside, and fearing she was using the internet — which she was not allowed to do — called out to her. Her daughter opened the door and Ms Chin noticed "big, kind of dirty" sneakers on the floor before realising that "obviously there was someone under the doona". Ms Chin said she was "just panicking" as her daughter said something about a "homeless person", and when she tried to pull the blanket off the bed, there was a tug of war with the teenager who was shirtless. "I don't know whether he's armed," she told the court. "I'm home alone with the two kids." "I have to protect my kids at whatever cost". Ms Chin said she heard the teenager repeatedly say he was sorry, which made her think he had done something to her daughter. Earlier, the court heard stab wounds inflicted by Ms Chin on the boy penetrated the "entire depth" of his chest wall. Dr Shaun Lee treated the teenager at Royal Perth Hospital for stab wounds to both sides of his chest, as well as superficial cuts on his back. While Dr Lee said he did not measure the depth of the more serious chest wound, it "penetrated the entire depth of the chest wall". "There was a hole in his chest?" asked prosecutor Chadd Graham. "That's correct," Dr Lee responded. The court also heard from Ms Chin's son, who was six at the time and whom she asked to fetch a kitchen knife that she used in the stabbing. On Thursday the court was shown a video of the boy recorded earlier this year, in which he said he did not see the stabbing take place. He said he got the knife for his mother "because I was scared". The boy said the teenager "wasn't wearing a shirt" and he remembered his mother "at least one time" saying the word "intruder". The trial continues.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Police believe they have found the body of Meilee Chen, 68, who went missing three months ago
Police believe they have located the body of a missing Newcastle woman who disappeared three months ago. Meilee Chen, 68, was last seen in the Newcastle area in May, when she could not be located or contacted police were notified and an investigation commenced. Police and SES crews searched Martins Creek in Birmingham Gardens and Jesmond in May and July, but Ms Chen was not located. Police found a body during a search of a property at Birmingham Gardens about 9am on Thursday. The Daily Telegraph reported specialist detectives and forensic officers were at the property investigating the death. A police spokesman said while the body has not yet been formally identified, it is believed to be Ms Chen. 'A report will be prepared for the Coroner,' a spokesman said.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Opening statements wrap up in Matt Wright trial
Matt Wright pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst )
