Madeleine McCann suspect Christian B ‘boasted about being a master criminal who could outwit police’

A friend of the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann has revealed he made shocking claims about how the three-year-old vanished.

The prime suspect in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance bragged about being a “master criminal”, a leading witness has claimed.

Christian B, the main suspect in the 2007 disappearance of the three-year-old British toddler, is also alleged to have boasted about how he could outwit police – telling friends it was easier to get away with crimes in Portugal than in Germany.

Madeleine McCann, who was just three years old, went missing in Portugal in 2007 while on holiday with her family. She has not been seen since. Picture: AFP

According to an exclusive report in The Sun, former friend-turned-police informer Helge ­B is understood to have told police of Christian B’s gloats amid a fresh probe into the convicted sex offender.

Helge B met his fellow German a year before Madeleine disappeared while on holiday with her parents in Portugal and was the person who identified Christian B to police in connection with the little girl’s disappearance.

“Helge B has spoken at length to officers about the time he spent with Christian B, where they were carrying out crimes together side-by-side,” a source in Portugal who is close to the investigation reportedly told The Sun.

Madeleine McCann was just three when she disappeared. Picture: AGP

German national Christian B is the main suspect in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance. Picture: AFP

“He told them how Christian B often boasted of being really, really good at what he did, a master criminal and how the police were useless.

“He was particularly disparaging about Portuguese officers saying it was much easier to get away with stuff in Portugal than in Germany.”

Helge B also claimed Christian B had a burglary tool kit that could unlock any security door.

He bragged about the tools, which raise fresh doubts over the official theory that Madeleine’s kidnapper clambered in through a window of the McCanns’ holiday apartment in Praia da Luz.

The hotel in Lagos, Portugal, where the three-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007. Picture: AFP

German police are said to be “electrified” by the lock pick kit discovery — and are also probing the possibility Christian B used car paint solvent to sedate Madeleine.

In an exclusive interview from a secret location, Helge B — now in German police witness protection — told The Sun that “he came through the door.”

German prosecutors hope to use the lock picks evidence to nail Christian B, who is in jail for drugs crimes and appealing a seven-year sentence for raping a woman of 72.

Helge B said he found the kit at Christian B’s Algarve home.

Kate and Gerry McCann have never given up hope that their daughter is alive. Picture: AP

The petty criminal had decided to ransack it with friend Manfred Seyferth after learning Christian B was serving time for theft.

Helge B, who kept the kit and told German police about it, added: “You can use it to pick any lock, including security locks.”

The 14 picks are reportedly black stainless steel and each is designed for a ­specific door type.

Police in Portugal have always said the man who snatched Madeleine broke in through the window and either left through a door with her or climbed back out.

German and Portuguese police investigators, pictured in May, have continued to search for any evidence relating to Madeleine McCann. Picture: Getty Images

It has been reported that the metal window shutters of the apartment were rolled all the way up, and a curtain was blowing, after Madeleine went missing.

But when asked how Christian B got into the McCanns’ holiday home, Helge B replied: “Through the door. Easily. He can open any door.”

Insiders close to the German police investigation, which was opened when Helge B gave detectives Christian B’s name in 2017, said cops believe the window theory is a “red herring”.

Meanwhile, Helge B also claimed Christian B “confessed” to kidnapping Madeleine.

Speaking with German paper Bild, he revealed how his blood ran cold the day the convicted paedophile told him that “she didn’t scream” shortly after the little girl disappeared.

He also described chilling footage he saw on a video camera he stole from the suspect.

But in a shock twist, the friend described how British police ignored him when he raised concerns about Christian B – years before the German was declared a suspect.

– with The Sun

Originally published as Madeleine McCann suspect Christian B ‘boasted about being a master criminal who could outwit police’