Police have said they will not charge a long-serving former aide of a Scottish Government minister after an investigation was held into an accusation of inappropriate conduct.
A force spokesman confirmed to the Press and Journal last night that the probe into the allegations against Norman Will had been completed.
Mr Will had worked for Fergus Ewing, the Inverness and Nairn MSP and cabinet secretary for rural economy and connectivity, since 1999, including as constituency office manager.
However, he was suspended by the SNP in December last year pending an investigation into a complaint about his conduct. Mr Will subsequently quit the party.
The complaint was passed to police and became the subject of an investigation.
But last night a police spokesman said: “We can confirm that enquiries based on the information available to Police Scotland are now complete.
“The reporting and tackling of sexual harassment is a priority for Police Scotland, with all complaints received thoroughly investigated.
“Any further information received will similarly be investigated thoroughly.”
It is understood that no arrests or charges were made during the police inquiry.
Mr Ewing was reported to have given police a statement as part of the probe.
The allegation against Mr Will emerged just weeks after Aberdeen Donside MSP Mark McDonald quit as early years minister last November over his conduct towards two women.
Mr McDonald later resigned from the SNP and now sits as an independent at Holyrood.
The Scottish Parliament was also believed to have launched an investigation into the complaint against Mr Will.
A spokesman said: “The parliament takes a zero tolerance approach to harassment in the workplace and any complaints made to us will be listened to and investigated.
“To ensure that those coming forward can have full confidence in our procedures we will not confirm or comment upon any individual cases.”
The SNP confirmed last night that Mr Will was no longer a member of the party.
Mr Will did not respond after being contacted by The Press and Journal.
