MADELEINE McCann suspect Christian Brueckner could face three extra months behind bars after the woman who paid his fine asked for her money back.
The mystery donor – an ex-cop who investigated the suspect – settled a £1,300 outstanding court fine allowing Brueckner, 48, to walk free in September.
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But the former German FBI agent has now emailed prosecutors pleading she has made a “mistake” – and begged for the funds to be returned to her.
Officials are taking the request seriously and were last night looking at how the funds could be sent back.
Watch The Sun’s exclusive documentary on the Maddie case here
If they succeed it would secure crucial extra time for McCann investigators before their prime suspect walks free.
Reports in Germany said: “In an email to the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor’s Office, the former BKA employee is now demanding repayment of the money.
“She stated that she was unaware that Christian B. had been convicted in previous cases, including forgery.”
The ex-cop is said to have told officials: “I therefore wish to contest my declaration of intent to repay the payment and invalidate the legal transaction accordingly.”
The payment cleared a 2016 Helmstedt District Court fine for drunkenness in traffic and forgery of documents and a 2017 Braunschweig court levy for assault.
Before the ex-cop paid the fine, convicted paedophile Breuckner had only been able to pay £210 of the total and faced being kept behind bars until late January.
The fine-payer insists she had “never had personal contact with Christian B.”
Maddie prosecutors said it was investigating “the extent to which the payment received in the criminal case against Christian B. can actually be credited toward the fine imposed there.”
It stated that it had found evidence “that the payment was made by mistake.”
Brueckner will now walk free when his sentence for raping an American woman, 72, in Praia da Luz, in 2005, ends.
He has been named publicly as the prime suspect over the May 3 2007 disappearance of Maddie, of Rothley, Leics., since 2020 but never been charged.
He has used letters to deny the claims but has refused to answer police questions or provide an alibi.
His phone was in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine vanished and made a 30-minute call from the area.
His Jaguar was re-registered into a name the day after the disappearance.
A Sun investigation this year revealed bombshell new evidence – including Brueckner’s obsession with snatching and abusing small, young, blonde girls.
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We also placed him at key police locations of interest, including a lake where cops dug for evidence.
And we showed evidence he was at the scene of an al-but-confession when he allegedly said Maddie “did not scream,” in 2008.
Our probe – aired on Channel 4 – revealed the existence of a hard-drive and laptop containing crucial picture evidence on the case.
Police maintain they have physical evidence Maddie is dead – but no forensic links.
German police have recently stressed the value UK authorities could provide by getting involved in the case again before Brueckner’s release.
He has refused to rule out leaving Germany and insisted he will go to ground on his release.
If he travelled to a non-extradition country all hopes for McCann justice could disappear with him.
Timeline of Maddie’s disappearance
May 3, 2007
Madeleine McCann disappears from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a massive police search and becoming one of the most famous missing persons cases in history.
January 15, 2016
Neighbour reports a possible ‘grave’ at Brueckner’s abandoned factory in East Germany.
Cops find disturbing images on USB sticks and launch a full-scale search.
February 16, 2016
Christian Brueckner is convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop.
He was sentenced to 15-months behind bars but was already on the run by then.
May 3, 2017
Around this time, Helge B calls an information hotline after watching a ten-year anniversary special on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
He reports an alleged confession by Christian Brueckner.
September 27, 2018
On-the-run Christian Brueckner is arrested over outstanding drugs claims in Italy.
He is extradited to Germany the following year.
December 16, 2019
Christian Brueckner was convicted, in Germany, for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, after his DNA was matched to a hair found on her bed.
He was sentenced to seven years behind bars.
June 4, 2020
German prosecutors reveal to the world they have a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann.
For the first time they claim Madeleine is dead.
German media later name him as Christian B (Christian Brueckner).
June 23, 2023
In his first interview, witness Helge B alleges to German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner all-but-confessed the Madeleine abduction to him, by allegedly saying “she didn’t scream” as they talked about the case, at a music festival, in Spain.
February 16, 2024
Brueckner goes on trial accused of none-McCann allegations of rape and sex assault, in Braunschweig, Germany.
Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and lead to McCann charges.
October 8, 2024
Brueckner was acquitted of all claims.
Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending.
September 17, 2025
Date on which Christian Brueckner will be released from custody without action being taken.
Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year – or over the McCann case.
June 1, 2025
Police order a renewed search for clues in Praia Da Luz on the Algarve in Portugal.
It lasts for just three days.