Police Scotland officers in the Highlands issue fresh appeal for Kiltarlity man who went missing near River Beauly six months ago
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SIX months on from when James Paton was last seen, police are issuing a new appeal for help in trying to trace him.
The 73-year-old from Kiltarlity was seen around 1.30pm on December 23, 2019, driving his silver Dacia Duster at Ruttle Woods near the River Beauly where he was going to walk his dog.
His car was still there at around 4.30pm that afternoon with his spaniel collie cross dog inside, but there was no sign of Mr Paton.
In January, police released a CCTV image taken at a filling station in Beauly shortly before the last sighting of Mr Paton.
He is described as white, 5ft 8ins in height and of stocky build with grey hair and a beard. He wears glasses and when he was last seen he was wearing black trousers with a purple jumper, a green fleece jacket and brown boots.
Searches have been carried out in the area using police dogs, and with support from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Dundonnel Mountain Rescue Team, the Coastguard helicopter and the force's dive and marine unit but these efforts have not uncovered any more information.
Sergeant Brian Bisset said: “This is a very upsetting time for Mr Paton’s family who are extremely worried as six months have now passed without any further sightings or contact from him, which is totally out of character.
“Despite the passage of time, we will continue to carry out enquiries to trace him, and we will follow up any information we receive. I would again appeal to anyone with any information that may assist our investigation, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact 101 quoting reference number 3111 of December 23, 2019.”
