Latest news with #CalumSmith
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
More than 1,500 hours of CCTV seized after boy, 8, sexually assaulted in tent at Loch Ness campsite
Police have seized more than 1,500 hours of CCTV footage in the hunt for a man who sexually assaulted an eight-year-old boy at a campsite in the Scottish Highlands. The attacker preyed on the schoolboy after sneaking into his tent at the Loch Ness Bay campsite in Drumnadrochit between 12.20am and 1am on Thursday 31 July. The child's family were in an adjacent tent. The father overheard the incident, and when he came out to investigate, he saw the suspect walking away from his son's tent. , Police Scotland said more than 1,500 hours of CCTV footage have been seized and almost 100 properties visited as part of the inquiry. The suspect has been described as a white man, aged between 35 and 50, around 5ft 10ins tall, and bald. Detective Superintendent Calum Smith said: "We have significant resources dedicated to this investigation and are fully committed to finding the individual responsible. "Please be assured there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes and officers have seized more than 1,500 hours of public and private CCTV footage. "As part of our investigation, we have specialist resources from across the country assisting local officers. "We have had a good response from the public so far, but I would again urge anyone with information to please come forward." DS Smith added: "Please think back - were you in the area at the time? Did you notice anyone matching the suspect's description? "Even if it doesn't seem significant, please pass any information on. It could prove crucial to our investigation." Read more from Sky News: Specialist officers are continuing to support the boy and his family. Superintendent Judy Hill said: "I would like to thank everyone for their help so far, including local businesses. "We understand this incident will be very upsetting and worrying for the people living in this community. "I would encourage anyone with any concerns, or any information, to approach local officers or call 101."
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Scotsman
4 days ago
- Scotsman
Detectives seize 1500 hours of CCTV after boy sexually assaulted at Scottish campsite
The eight-year-old boy was sexually assaulted in his tent at a campsite in Drumnadrochit Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Detectives are reappealing for information as an investigation continues into the sexual assault of an eight-year-old boy at a Scottish campsite. Police said they have seized over 1500 hours of CCTV footage and visited almost 100 properties as part of the enquiries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Between 12.20am and 1am on Thursday July 31, a man approached the child within his tent at the Loch Ness Bay Campsite in Drumnadrochit. His family were in an adjacent tent. He sexually assaulted the boy before leaving the area. The Loch Ness Bay campsite | Google Maps As part of the investigation, detectives are now trawling CCTV and door-to-door, as well as tracing visitors who were staying at the campsite at the time of incident. The suspect is described as a white man, aged between 35 and 50-years-old, around 5ft 10ins tall, and bald. Detective Superintendent Calum Smith said: "We have significant resources dedicated to this investigation and are fully committed to finding the individual responsible Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Please be assured there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes and officers have seized more than 1500 hours of public and private CCTV footage. "As part of our investigation, we have specialist resources from across the country assisting local officers. "We have had a good response from the public so far, but I would again urge anyone with information to please come forward. "Please think back - were you in the area at the time? Did you notice anyone matching the suspect's description? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Even if it doesn't seem significant, please pass any information on. It could prove crucial to our investigation." Police are continuing to support the boy and his family. Superintendent Judy Hill said: "I would like to thank everyone for their help so far, including local businesses. "We understand this incident will be very upsetting and worrying for the people living in this community. "I would encourage anyone with any concerns, or any information, to approach local officers or call 101." If you have any information, please contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0167 of July 31.
News.com.au
02-08-2025
- News.com.au
8yo boy sexually assaulted in tent while on family camping holiday in Scotland
Police believe a man may have spied on an eight-year-old boy at a campsite before launching a sex attack on him as he slept in a tent. 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.'
Scotsman
01-08-2025
- Scotsman
Father saw suspect who sexually assaulted his 8-year-old son in tent at Loch Ness campsite walk away
Police Scotland have described the sexual assault at a Loch Ness campsite as 'very distressing'. Sign up to the daily Crime UK newsletter. All the latest crime news and trials from across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The father of a young boy who was sexually assaulted at a campsite in the Highlands saw the suspect walk away from his son's tent, police have said. Detective Superintendent Calum Smith said the eight-year-old had been left 'traumatised and upset' by the incident, which took place at the Loch Ness Bay campsite near Drumnadrochit before 1am on Thursday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Loch Ness Bay campsite | Google Maps Police Scotland have launched a significant investigation and are working 'every day' to find the suspect, who is described as a bald man aged 35-50 and about 5ft 10in. The child was in a tent when a man approached him and carried out the attack. The boy's family were in a tent next to him. Mr Smith spoke to journalists about the ongoing investigation on Friday. He said: 'At the time, the father has overheard the incident, has come out, and has seen the man walking away from the tent.' The detective said the suspect spoke back to the boy's father, who had asked what he was doing, before walking off. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Officers are keeping an open mind as to whether the suspect was staying at campsite, south of Inverness, he said. Mr Smith said: 'I fully understand that the public will be upset with what's happened and distressed with this incident happening in the local area. What I would like to do is reassure the public that we have got dedicated resources working every day towards resolving it, and identifying the person involved and bringing them to justice.' Police have appealed for information, asking anyone who was in the area at the time to get in touch. Loch Ness Bay Camping | Google While there is CCTV at the campsite, the incident itself was not caught on camera. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Smith said the public had been 'excellent' in helping so far. He said the boy and his family were being supported by specialist officers. The detective said: 'This is reassuringly very, very rare. However, that doesn't take away from the fact that this is a very distressing, horrible incident that we need to resolve.'
Daily Record
01-08-2025
- Daily Record
Cops continue hunt for campsite predator after eight-year-old boy sexually assaulted in tent
An eight-year-old boy was preyed on while in his tent just yards from where his family had camped up. A manhunt is continuing today after a predator sexually assaulted a young boy at a campsite before fleeing the area. An eight-year-old boy was preyed on while in his tent just yards from where his family had camped up. The sickening attack happened at Loch Ness Bay Campsite in Drumnadrochit between 12.20am and 1am on Thursday, July 31. Officers from Police Scotland say a man approached the child within his tent before sexually assaulting him and leaving the area. The horror incident happened while the boy was on a camping trip with his family. Specialist officers have been drafted in to support the boy and traumatised loved ones. Police have now organised a press conference this afternoon as the search for the predator continues. The media will speak to Superintendent Judy Hill and Detective Superintendent Calum Smith at Inverness Police Station at 2pm on Friday. Detectives are desperately trying to trace the male suspect who they have described as a white man, aged between 35-50-years-old. He is around 5ft 10ins tall and bald. Officers swarmed the popular campsite on Thursday as they promised extra patrols in an attempt to reassure the local community. Police have been pouring through CCTV footage and say they are carrying out enquiries in the local area. Senior detectives have appealed to campers for help and asked anyone who saw something suspicious to get in touch. They have described their investigation as "significant" into what they say will be a "worrying and upsetting" incident for residents. Detective Inspector Christopher Macleod said: 'This sexual assault was carried out on a young boy, who was camping overnight with his family and it is vital we trace the man responsible as soon as possible. A dedicated team of officers are carrying out investigations, including carrying out enquiries in the local area and reviewing all available CCTV footage. "I would urge anyone who was staying in the Drumnadrochit area to come forward, as any piece of information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it is, could prove vital. Please think back - do you recognise anyone who matches the description of the suspect? Or did you see anyone behaving in a strange manner, giving cause for concern, or loitering in the area? Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "I am also keen to hear from anyone who was driving in the area around the time of the incident and may have dashcam footage, or who has seen something suspicious. We understand the significant impact this will have on the local community and I would like to thank everyone for their help so far. "This incident will be very upsetting and worrying for the people living in this community and would ask anyone with any concerns to speak to us. Please be reassured this is a significant investigation and there will be a large police presence in the area. "This includes uniformed and plain-clothed officers from the local division. Anyone with any concerns, or information, can approach these officers."
