Beast ‘may have spied on eight-year-old boy' before launching sex attack on him at Scots campsite
And they told how the balding fiend fled into the darkness after the child's 'distress' wakened his dad at the beauty spot on the shores of Loch Ness.
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A senior officer said the sickening assault in the early hours of Thursday had been 'hugely traumatising' for the lad and his family, who were tourists on holiday in the area.
Detective Superintendent Calum Smith told of suspicions the sicko 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 pervert, DS 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.
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'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. DSI 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.'
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