Christian Brueckner 'just feet away from Madeleine McCann family’s Portugal villa' on night she went missing

Christian Brueckner 'just feet away from Madeleine McCann family’s Portugal villa' on night she went missing German paedophile Christian Brueckner has claimed he was 'selling drugs' near the flat on the night of Madeleine McCann's disappearance - but denies any involvement Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner has claimed he was 'just feet away' from the family’s villa night she went missing. The 49-year-old German paedophile - named as a prime suspect in the three-year-old's 2007 disappearance - is said to be hoping to find a publisher for a tell-all book as he attempts to navigate life outside of prison, the Mirror reported this week. Brueckner was released a year ago after serving a seven-year sentence for rape of a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, the same resort area where Madeleine disappeared. But German authorities have struggled to find a strong enough case to bring him to court. He has spent much of the time since his release living in tents in woodland, after attempts to put him in temporary accommodation were met with a furious backlash from locals. Brueckner denies any involvement in the Madeleine McCann case - but has now suggested he was in the area selling drugs on the night she vanished, and was stopped by police. He told the Mail on Sunday: "I was on the beach, not far from Maddie's hotel, selling drugs. I'd been in Spain and smuggled the weed into Portugal.' He was just 150 yards away. "I was even stopped by police three times on the street [in Praia da Luz] while they were looking for Maddie,' he added. "Luckily, they didn't find the drugs. My van was full of them." Brueckner also claimed he had not mentioned his whereabouts until now as "police want to frame me for the Maddie thing". It comes after it emerged Brueckner has already started writing - and has contacted at least one professional author - to assist him in writing the manuscript for an autobiography. He is said to have told friends he could rake in a seven-figure amount for publishing rights - though realistically, should it ever make it to print, it would take considerably less. A source told the Mirror: "Brueckner is desperate to tell his side of the story. He believes that writing about his innocence will help him. He wants the book to be published in both German and English. Ultimately he also sees it as a way to help him financially as he has been unable to find any work since getting out of jail and is living on benefits." In May, the Met Police announced plans to seek Brueckner's extradition to face trial in the UK over Madeleine's disappearance. Detective hope to have secured charges with the Crown Prosecution Service before the 20th anniversary next year.