The donor bizarrely claimed the payment was a “misunderstanding”

THE woman who has paid for the prime Madeleine McCann suspect’s early release has been revealed as a cop who had been investigating the paedophile.

The mystery donor settled a £1,300 outstanding court fine which means Christian Brueckner, 48, will walk free in less than three months, on September 17.

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The woman who has paid for Christian Brueckner’s early release from jail has been revealed as a copCredit: Dan Charity

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Brueckner’s release will have a major implication on the investigations into the disappearance of Madeleine McCannCredit: AFP
Reports have now identified her as a former officer with the German FBI – known as the BKA – who claims to have been involved in wire-tapping his jail cell.

She confirmed to respected Hamburg-based publication Der Spiegel she paid the funds directly to the justice system – allowing the fiend out early.

Convicted rapist Brueckner had only been able to pay off £210 of the total fine and faced being kept behind bars until January.

That scenario would have granted cops four precious extra months to hunt down forensic evidence and finally charge him over Maddie’s disappearance.

As it is, the ex-cop’s intervention undermined the same force she previously worked for – all as they tirelessly dug for new clues in Portugal two weeks ago.

The woman – who has not been publicly named – claims she worked in the field of “Operative Technology Audio”.

She says she was involved in bugging Brueckner’s prison cell – allegations that emerged in court last year as the disturbed German was cleared of fresh rape charges.

The female fine-payer did confirm: “I never had personal contact with Christian B.”

And when confronted over the fine payment, the woman bizarrely told Spiegel it has been a “misunderstanding” and she had tried in vain to reverse the payment.

She reportedly believed the fine was due to Brueckner insulting a police officer, something she said “wasn’t justified”.

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When she learned that the penalties were actually to do with a number of infractions, including bodily harm, “it was already too late,” she said.

Spiegel reports it has been able to verify she transferred £1,300 to an account of the Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office at the Comdirect bank.

It cleared a 2016 Helmstedt District Court fine for drunkenness in traffic and forgery of documents and a 2017 Braunschweig court levy for assault.

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 has 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.

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Young Maddie vanished on May 3, 2007 in PortugalCredit: Alamy

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Brueckner appeared in court earlier this year over verbal assaults on prison guardsCredit: Rob Pattinson
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.

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.

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Brueckner is serving time in jail after being convicted of rapeCredit: Rex Features

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Police tirelessly dug for new clues in Portugal two weeks agoCredit: Dan Charity