A man who emerged as a person of interest in the Alistair Wilson murder case has been jailed for a separate offence, we can reveal.
Police have been trying to solve the mystery of the Nairn banker’s death since he was killed on November 28, 2004.
Last year it emerged that detectives had a new man in their sights – someone who had not previously been associated with the case.
And today the Press and Journal can reveal that this person has been convicted and jailed for an unrelated drugs charge.
Former detective on the trail of potential suspect
According to sources in Nairn, officers were revisiting witness statements last year and asking people if they knew this man.
Last year, police altered the age range of the gunman from between 30 and 40 years old to between 20 and 40.
They also appealed for information about a sighting of a man in his 20s with a hand gun on Nairn beach a month before the murder took place.
The man of interest was in his 20s at the time of the shooting. He previously worked for the emergency services.
And earlier this year, he was convicted at a Scottish court.
Former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley has studied the case in depth and wrote a book about his findings in 2018.
Earlier this year, he visited the man’s Scottish home but neighbours reported they had not seen him for some time.
Mr Bleksley later travelled abroad to quiz members of the man’s family – but they were unwilling to discuss the case.
“This man’s age falls in line with the police’s new age range,” Mr Bleksley said. “He lived locally and drank in the Havelock.
“He was known as a bit of an oddball. A Walter Mitty character, as he was described to me.”
Was Alistair murdered because of a planning objection?
There was a flurry of activity around the case last year.
The BBC’s Doorstep Murder podcast about the case reported that detectives had a new man in their sights.
Police also appealed for information from anyone who had been in the Havelock Hotel two days before Alistair’s death.
The hotel is across the street from the Wilson family’s home in Crescent Road.
Detectives are focusing on a planning application to build decking at the Havelock Hotel.
Alistair objected to the plans, citing concerns about privacy, noise and broken glass.
Police travelled to Canada last year to interview a key witness about the planning application.
Officers from the force’s major investigations team now believe the answer to Alistair’s murder lies in his personal life.
For many years, most speculation about the motive centred on his job with the Bank of Scotland.
Person of interest aware of Alistair Wilson’s planning objection
The man police had been asking about was known to be a regular drinker in the Havelock Hotel.
It is understood he was aware of Alistair’s objection.
The man lived in Nairn at the time of the murder. Former neighbours believed he kept guns in his house.
Police investigations into the murder are continuing. But officers are not willing to discuss individuals who may be connected to the case.
Detective Chief Inspector Graham Smith said: “The investigation into the murder of Alistair Wilson is active and we continue to investigate any new information we receive.
“It cannot be stressed often enough that this crime has left a family devastated and Police Scotland is committed to finding the answers for them and bringing the offender to justice.
“Anyone with information that could help our investigation can contact the enquiry team through 101 or email SCDHOLMESAberdeen@scotland.police.uk.”
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