A prominent Highland councillor has resigned his seat because he says he is facing charges under electoral law.
When Alex MacLeod won his Landward Caithness seat for the SNP in Highland Council elections in May 2012 at the age of 19, he became the youngest councillor ever in the Highlands.
He also became the youngest in Scotland after an 18 year old Aberdeen City councillor decided not to stand.
Mr MacLeod became secretary of the SNP group on the council, but in December, then 20, he resigned from the party to sit as an independent while police investigated allegations over his electoral expenses.
It was understood that one element of the investigation related to a failure to declare staying in a Wick hotel's flat during the campaign, which would have put him over the £1226 allowed in expenses.
He had worked for Alex Salmond immediately after leaving school but went on to study law in Edinburgh.
He issued a statement yesterday saying that he had resigned from the Highland Council, effective from September 30.
He said "I have received notice of a charge of electoral misconduct, and I intend to step aside from my Council role so that I can work with the my solicitor to reach an acceptable solution.
"I need to be honest about any mistakes that I have made, and face the consequences of my actions. I got into this situation when I was very young, with all the arrogance and hot-headedness that that entails.
"I feel a redoubtable sense of sorrow and regret for the events which have unfolded. I understand that this news will hurt a great many of my friends, colleagues, and supporters. I am truly, very genuinely sorry about that. My biggest apology is to the people who voted for me."
A Crown Office spokesman said: "We received a report concerning a 20-year-old male, in relation to a number of alleged incidents said to have occurred between 15 March 2012 and 8 June 2012. The case is live for the purposes of contempt and it would be inappropriate to comment further."
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