A teenager has appeared in court charged with the rape and murder of six-year-old Alesha MacPhail, who was found dead on the Isle of Bute.

The 16-year-old was arrested two days after Alesha's body was discovered in woodland near her grandparents' house on the Scottish island, west of Glasgow, on Monday.

She was reported missing from her home at 6.25am that day and her body was found less than three hours later.

Officers have not specified how Alesha died, but a murder investigation was launched following the results of a post-mortem.

A pupil at Chapelside Primary School in Airdrie, Alesha was at the start of a three-week break when she was reported missing.


The suspect, who cannot be identified, appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court on Friday after arriving in a security van.

He was remanded in custody ahead of a second court appearance later this month.