A man accused of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old boy in a tent in the Scottish Highlands has died in prison.
John Bell, 44, was charged over the incident at the Loch Ness Bay campsite near Drumnadrochit on July 31.
Police received reports of a man entering a boy’s tent between 12.20am and 1am that day.
The Grangemouth man was remanded in custody at HMP Inverness and made no plea during his September court appearance.
Police Scotland confirmed it had been made aware of the death of a prisoner on Saturday, just before 5.30am.
Meanwhile, a Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: ‘Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual.
‘Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.’
‘There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.’
John Bell, who was accused of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old boy at a campsite in the Scottish Highlands (pictured) has died in prison
The Loch Ness Bay campsite, pictured in the days after the attack
The boy was visiting the area while on holiday with his family when the alleged attack happened over the summer.
The eight-year-old was sleeping in a separate tent with his father’s nearby.
His father called police when he noticed a man walking away from his son’s tent.
He confronted the man and asked him what he was doing. The man replied, then walked off.
Police said the incident has been ‘hugely traumatising for the child and his family – and naturally worrying to the community’.
The Daily Mail has approached the force for comment.