Madeleine McCann suspect 'removed birthmark after alleged rape’, court hears

18 February 2024 , 11:34

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Christian Brueckner is on trial at the moment for a string of alleged attacks (Image: Daily Mirror)

Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner allegedly had surgery to remove a birthmark from his thigh after an attack on a woman.

The 47-year-old is the prime suspect in the disappearance of the British youngster who vanished from Praia da Luz in Portugal back in 2007. But he is currently on trial accused of carrying out five unrelated offences in the Algarve between 2000 and 2017 - they include the alleged rape of Hazel Behan, an Irish tour rep, who was attacked in her apartment in Praia da Rocha in 2004.

Alongside that, Brueckner is accused of raping a teenage girl in his Praia da Luz home and raping an elderly woman in her holiday apartment. He also faces a child sex charge for allegedly exposing himself to a German girl on a beach in Salema in April 2007. His final charge relates to an alleged indecent exposure in front of an 11-year-old in Sao Bartolomeu de Messines in 2017. He denies all the charges.

Missing British youngster Maddie McCann (PA)

The youngster vanished from Praia da Luz in Portugal back in 2007 (PA)

But the paedophile, who is already serving a seven-year prison sentence allegedly had a birthmark removed after attacking Ms Behan at knifepoint - the court was told. Ms Behan described the birthmark to officers who found scarring on the spot.

But in a key breakthrough, they spotted it on an earlier scan of Brueckner who is already serving seven years in prison for rape.

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Christian Brueckner is on trial in Germany and faces five charges (Phil Harris / Daily Mirror)

A source told The Sun: "When Brueckner was examined during his current imprisonment they found a scar where the birthmark should have been. They then went back through the records and found a body scan of Brueckner done by German investigators. Crucially, photos of his entire body were taken and at that time he had a significant birthmark on his left upper thigh at hip level."

This isn’t the first time the rapist is accused of having had surgery to alter his appearance. It was previously said that Brueckner had spent £7,500 to have his jaw reset and four teeth straightened. Allegedly this was done just months after the British youngster went missing. The trial continues.

Kieren Williams