Disgraced former childcare minister Mark McDonald is to be suspended from Holyrood for a month after it was ruled he sexually harassed a fellow MSP's employee.

Scotland's parliamentary watchdog launched the investigation after SNP MSP James Dornan wrote to the body alleging a member of his staff was a victim of harassment by the Aberdeen Donside MSP.

McDonald resigned from the SNP in March after an internal party investigation found that he had exploited "his position of power" as an MSP over two women.

It said he had sent "unwanted text and social media messages" and that his behaviour caused distress to those involved.

One such message read: "My phone wanted to autocorrect dingyed to [********] there.

"Which I'm so glad I noticed before I sent that message."

The commissioner for ethical standards in public life has cleared the MSP of some of the complaints against him.

However, he has been sanctioned by the standards committee after the commissioner ruled he had harassed Dornan's employee by sending inappropriate direct messages on Twitter.

Standards committee convener Clare Haughey said the commissioner found he had "failed to treat one witness with respect", in a manner constituting sexual harassment.

The report, which will be published later this afternoon, also said McDonald had failed to treat a second witness with respect "over a financial matter".

MSPs on the committee ruled McDonald breached Holyrood's code of conduct and recommended he should be excluded from parliament without pay for a month.

The suspension would not overlap with parliamentary recess, which begins at the start of July.

The committee's recommendation, which would be the most severe sanction against an MSP since the parliament began, will still need to be ratified by a Holyrood majority next Wednesday.

Haughey criticised Dornan for sharing details of his complaint with the media, asking MSPs to follow proper complaints procedures.

In a statement, McDonald said: "I have accepted the findings of the commissioner's report in relation to the two breaches of the code of conduct.

"The first finding relates to the sending of an inappropriate social media message to a female member of staff employed by another MSP.

"This message was the reason I resigned as a Scottish Government minister in November 2017, and I have previously made a public apology for having sent it. I reiterate that apology today.

"The Commissioner has concluded that this message constituted sexual harassment.

"Analysis by my solicitor suggested that, while I accepted the message was inappropriate, it did not constitute sexual harassment.

"I therefore advised the standards, procedures and public appointments committee that I did not accept the finding.

"The committee has chosen to accept the commissioner's conclusion."

He continued: "The second finding relates to my having asked a member of staff to make a payment on my behalf, with my reimbursing her some 24 days later.

"I have accepted that this was an inappropriate request to make, and that I should have reimbursed her much earlier than I did.

"While I have explained that the delay arose from a loss of perspective on my priorities after a serious family health issue, I accept entirely that it was wrong and I have publicly and privately apologised to the woman in question. Again, I reiterate that apology."

The MSP added: "The commissioner's report has disproved or disregarded the overwhelming majority of Mr Dornan's complaint.

"The manner in which Mr Dornan chose to publicise his complaint, and make lurid allegations against me, has had a significant and lasting impact upon my personal mental health and wellbeing, and has thus affected my family.

"I am grateful that these allegations have not been upheld, as I have always denied them."

Speaking to STV News, the original complainant Dornan said his former party colleague should consider his position.

"There are still some people that work in the parliament who are victims of Mr McDonald, and I believe he should consider that," Dornan said.

Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said: "As this report has shown, Mark McDonald's behaviour has been well below that expected of anyone, let alone an MSP.

"Mark McDonald has let down his constituents and it is clear to everyone except him that he is totally unfit to represent the people of Donside.

"It is right that he faces a sanction for his behaviour, but the reality is the proposed action does not go far enough.

"Anyone with an ounce of decency in his position would do the right thing and immediately resign as an MSP."

Nicola Sturgeon has also previously said she thinks it would be appropriate for McDonald "to give his constituents the opportunity to elect a new MSP".

McDonald quit as the Scottish Government's childcare minister last November after admitting wrongdoing, not returning to Holyrood for four months.