A detective has made a break-through just days before the seventh anniversary of the three-year-old going missing in Portugal.
Her parents Gerry and Kate were last night said to be “heartened” by the revelations.
New witnesses claim the No 1 suspect, a serial child sex attacker who operated for years in the Praia de Luz area where Madeleine vanished, was wearing a beer logo shirt.
Peter Bleksley, a founding member of the Metropolitan Police’s undercover unit, has discovered that the T-shirt bearing a “Super Man” logo from Portuguese drinks company Super Bock was a rare item not sold to the public.
It was in fact given away to a handful of loyal customers at just a couple of bars in the Algarve.
The burgundy top, with a distinctive white circle on the back, was described by the families of two of his victims in Vale de Parra and Praia da Gale.
Thanks to this vital new evidence, the net is closing on the “pot-bellied” man police believe is responsible both for Madeleine’s disappearance and several other sex attacks.
A source close to the investigation said: “Fresh evidence which has come to light is helping detectives narrow down the lists of suspects considerably.
“There were once potentially hundreds of suspects but this has been reduced to just a handful – with one prime suspect.
“Everyone is very confident the suspect will be found soon."
“It goes without saying that any information about these unusual T-shirts – or anyone wearing them – could be vitally important to helping us finally solve this case.”
Friends of Kate and Gerry McCann, both 45, claimed last night the couple were upbeat that the news raised “fresh hopes” that Madeleine could be found.
Ex-Scotland Yard detective Mr Bleksley, who has spent much time investigating the case in Portugal, said: “We know that some victims said the man smelt of stale alcohol and tobacco and that he had a pot belly, so that would suggest he was a regular drinker or may have worked in a pub or restaurant.”
Next Saturday it will be exactly seven years since Madeleine went missing as her parents dined at a nearby tapas bar.
Kate will appear on ITV (UK), on Thursday when morning favourite Lorraine Kelly, 54, interviews her.
Her parents Gerry and Kate were last night said to be “heartened” by the revelations.
Peter Bleksley, a founding member of the Metropolitan Police’s undercover unit, has discovered that the T-shirt bearing a “Super Man” logo from Portuguese drinks company Super Bock was a rare item not sold to the public.
It was in fact given away to a handful of loyal customers at just a couple of bars in the Algarve.
The burgundy top, with a distinctive white circle on the back, was described by the families of two of his victims in Vale de Parra and Praia da Gale.
Thanks to this vital new evidence, the net is closing on the “pot-bellied” man police believe is responsible both for Madeleine’s disappearance and several other sex attacks.
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| A new image of what she may look like now has been released. |
“There were once potentially hundreds of suspects but this has been reduced to just a handful – with one prime suspect.
“Everyone is very confident the suspect will be found soon."
“It goes without saying that any information about these unusual T-shirts – or anyone wearing them – could be vitally important to helping us finally solve this case.”
Ex-Scotland Yard detective Mr Bleksley, who has spent much time investigating the case in Portugal, said: “We know that some victims said the man smelt of stale alcohol and tobacco and that he had a pot belly, so that would suggest he was a regular drinker or may have worked in a pub or restaurant.”
Next Saturday it will be exactly seven years since Madeleine went missing as her parents dined at a nearby tapas bar.
Kate will appear on ITV (UK), on Thursday when morning favourite Lorraine Kelly, 54, interviews her.
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