Abuser out of jail found dead at beauty spot

Serial sex attacker released early from prison disappeared last week

A serial sex attacker is understood to have killed himself at a notorious Perth suicide spot after he was granted early release from prison.

Colin MacDonald was jailed in 2014 for a campaign of abuse against three schoolgirls.

The 48-year-old served three-quarters of his jail term before applying for early release.

He was reported missing last week, sparking a major search operation.

Detectives leading the hunt confirmed a man’s body was recovered at the weekend from Kinnoull Hill at Perth.

Although the body has yet to be formally identified, MacDonald’s family has been informed.

Relatives were too upset yesterday to speak.

MacDonald was just 11 years old when he targeted his first victim and spent the next six years preying on her.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that he raped and sexually abused the youngster – who was just 10 when the attacks began – at locations in Inverness and Lochaber.

He also sexually assaulted a second girl in the early 1980s at an address in Fort William. She was just nine at the time.

And between the late 1980s and early 1990s, MacDonald repeatedly abused a third girl at an address in the Oban area.

Sentencing MacDonald in October 2014, Judge Lord Jones said he had no alternative but to impose a prison sentence.

MacDonald had protested his innocence, claiming his victims had made up stories about him.

A Scottish Prison Service spokeswoman confirmed MacDonald had been eligible for early release after serving part of his sentence.

He was reported missing on Monday April 23.

A helicopter was scrambled to search around the Kinnoull Hill area, while dog handlers patrolled at ground level.

On Friday, the police released CCTV images showing MacDonald walking through High Street and crossing Queen’s Bridge.

The images, captured at 2pm on April 23, were the last known sightings of him.

Chief Inspector Ian Scott, local area commander for Perth, said on Friday that there was growing concern for MacDonald’s safety.

Mr Scott said officers were in touch with his family who were“understandably upset and very concerned”.

Residents were urged to check their outhouses, sheds, garages and gardens in case MacDonald had been sleeping rough in the area.

It is thought a body found on Kinnoull Hill is that of Colin MacDonald.