Alex MacLeod admits election expenses fraud charges
A former councillor says he has no intention of seeking re-election or returning to public politics after admitting to fraud charges.
Alex MacLeod was Highland Council's youngest member when he was elected in May last year at the age of 19.
His legal team has entered guilty pleas at Inverness Sheriff Court to charges relating to his election expenses.
The 21-year-old former SNP Caithness Landward councillor will be sentenced on 9 January.
In a statement, MacLeod said the fraud had been "an act of foolishness in the heat of a campaign".
He has pleaded guilty to knowingly incurring more election expenses than he was allowed, and declaring false expenses to council officials.
MacLeod also admitted to altering invoices for print work and submitting these to local authority officials.
The fraud took place between 15 March 2010 and 8 June 2012.