A MAN has been arrested following a probe by Police Scotland and the FBI into a rape allegedly committed in Renfrewshire over 50 years ago.

George Wilson was detained by officers as part of an investigation into sexual offences said to have been committed in Bishopton in the 1960s and 1970s.

The 65-year-old, who was taken to Kilmarnock police station after being arrested, was due to appear in private before Sheriff Colin McKay at Paisley Sheriff Court last week.

But Wilson, who was also held on suspicion of committing a number of other sexual assaults, was released from custody without appearing in the dock.

Prosecutors from the The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed they were investigating Wilson over the alleged historic sexual offences.

And they said that, although he was released from custody without appearing in court, the case against him is still ongoing.

A spokesperson said: “The Procurator Fiscal at Paisley received a report concerning a 65-year-old man in connection with alleged incidents between January 1960 and December 1970.

“The accused did not appear in court and was liberated from custody.

“The case against him remains live and under consideration."

Police believe Wilson sexually assaulted four different women over a 10 year period between January 1960 and December 1970 - raping one of them in the early ‘60s.

It’s understood the Federal Bureau of Investigation - the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States of America - were involved in the investigation as some of Wilson’s alleged victims now live there.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On Tuesday, March 22, a 65-year-old man was arrested in connection with a rape and other historic sexual offences."

“A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal.”