Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner was part of a "video mafia and a porno mafia" which left an associate fleeing Portugal in fear, a court has heard.
Helge Busching, 53, a convicted criminal and the key witness in Brueckner's current trial - which sees him accused of five counts of sexual assault in Portugal between 2000 and 2017 - had told another witness, Nadia P, that he thought the "mafia" would pursue him when he discovered a series of vile videos at Brueckner's home.
Busching had told Nadia P that he had broken into the convicted rapist's address, where he discovered a number of tapes of Brueckner raping an elderly woman and a girl as young as 13, Braunschweig Regional Court heard.
Upon the videos' discovery, Busching was forced to flee Portugal in fear of a paedophile "porno mafia" ring who would pursue him when they discovered the break-in, the court was told.
A court heard how Maddie suspect Christian Brueckner was part of a "video mafia and a porno mafia"
GettyNadia P said: "Helge Busching was afraid - he said he had to flee the country because he knew as soon as Brueckner came out of prison that he would know that he had broken into his house.
"Helge Busching was afraid because he thought that there was a video mafia and a porno mafia. That was his fear."
The police have never seen the tapes, which no longer exist, Busching had told a court last week.
The 53-year-old also said Brueckner had hinted to him in 2008 that he had been involved in Madeleine's kidnapping, and had told him "she didn't even scream".
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Apartment 5A in Praia Da Luz in Portugal, where Madeleine McCann went missing
PANadia P added she had contacted German authorities to tell them about Christian Brueckner as soon as she found out he had been identified as a suspect in the Maddie case.
The news comes after it emerged - also in court last week - that Brueckner's ex-girlfriend had been part of his paedophile ring, and had "provided him with young girls" - including the 13-year-old in the horrific tapes.
A witness told judges that he had been told Brueckner "brought a woman washing machines and instead of paying him for it, [his ex-girlfriend] provided him with young girls."
It was also alleged that the woman had called Brueckner mere hours after the toddler vanished, a court heard.
Christian Brueckner continues to deny all charges levelled against him, as well as any involvement in the McCann casePA/ReutersShe was interviewed by police but the convicted sex offender had told her that same night he was driving in his camper van to her home, 20 miles from Praia da Luz, where Madeleine disappeared.
The court had also heard evidence from Michael Tatschl, who claimed Brueckner took McCann to be sold to a paedophile ring - though he also previously suggested the suspect had killed the toddler.
Brueckner has continuously denied any involvement in McCann's disappearance.
He is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence for a 2019 rape conviction and continues to deny the charges for which he is currently on trial.