Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner seen buying McDonald's after release

Madeleine McCann chief suspect Christian Brueckner celebrated his freedom by tucking into a box of chicken nuggets.

The convicted paedophile was released from prison in Germany this morning after serving a seven-year sentence for rape. The 2005 attack took place in the same area, Praia Da Luz, where Madeleine disappeared two years later. He was whisked out of Sehnde jail in the back seat of his lawyer’s car, hiding his face under a plastic bag.

But hours later the 48-year-old pervert was spotted at a McDonald’s restaurant near Hamburg wearing an ankle tag. Wearing a burgundy shirt, beige chinos and sunglasses, he leaned casually on metal railings while smoking a cigarette. He then went inside the fast-food joint and tucked into a burger and chicken nuggets with sweet and sour sauce.

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Brueckner was named as the prime suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance in June 2020. But despite claiming to have evidence he abducted and killed the three-year-old, prosecutors have still not charged him. They were powerless to stop Brueckner being released from prison at the end of his sentence for raping a pensioner.

But they convinced a judge to impose stringent conditions on his release, including the wearing of the ankle tag. Brueckner must wear the device for five years as part of his probationary supervision. He must also remain in monthly contact with a probation officer and let them know if he plans to leave his address.

Brueckner will be recalled to prison for up to three years or fined if he breaches the conditions. German police went to astonishing lengths to protect him as he was freed from prison. Dozens of officers were drafted in to form a ring of steel at the entrance of Sehnde prison before daybreak.

His lawyer Friedrich Fuelscher was then given a police escort as he sped into the facility in a blacked-out Audi at 9am. Just 15 minutes later he drove out with Brueckner cowering in the back seat. Three police vans escorted the car through red traffic lights at high speed while blocking other road users.

They accompanied Brueckner and his Kiel-based lawyer for several miles until they reached the A7 autobahn. It is not known where the German is planning to settle. He must appear in court next month in Oldenburg charged with insulting a prison officer.

If convicted he faces having to pay a fine. Despite a lengthy police investigation, detectives appear to be no closer to charging him over Madeleine’s disappearance.

He was cleared last October of a string of sex crimes he was accused of carrying out in Portugal. Prosecutors are awaiting the outcome of an appeal against those verdicts lodged in Germany's Federal Court of Justice.

Brueckner denies any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance in May 2007. German search teams spent three days hunting for evidence in Portugal last month.

Brueckner was living in a ramshackle farmhouse on the edge of Praia da Luz when Madeleine vanished.