‘One sex offender suspect left’ in Madeleine probe

ONLY one British sex offender with links to the Algarve remains a suspect in the hunt for Madeleine McCann, a television documentary claims.

In the programme, The Madeleine McCann Mystery, Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt claims all 52 British sex offenders with links to the Portuguese holiday destination have been investigated and only one remains in the frame.

The 30-minute documentary comes as Kate and Gerry McCann, both 39, face their first Christmas without their daughter.

The programme features forensic expert Professor David Barclay, who says it is unusual for children of Madeleine’s age to be abducted by paedophiles.

“There are two options. She [Madeleine] came to harm at the hands of some member of the family or of friends, or that it was some paedophile who happened to be passing by. Both are really, really unlikely but we know she’s gone.

“Abduction for sexual purposes of children is eight, nine and 10-year-olds. It is really, really unusual to want to take a child of three-and-a-half,” he said.

Prof Barclay criticises the fact the McCanns’ apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz was not protected as a crime scene following Madeleine’s disappearance on May 3. He claims in similar cases police have bought the house so they could keep it until after any trial.

Mr Brunt also claims a blue tennis bag used by Gerry McCann hours before Madeleine disappeared has gone missing. The claim has been rubbished by the family spokesman.

“As far as Kate and Gerry are concerned, there’s no missing tennis bag.

“They came back from holiday with everything except of course, tragically, Madeleine,” he said.