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A convicted paedophile under investigation over Madeleine McCann's disappearance faces a deathbed extradition to the UK for a series of sex attacks.
Raymond Hewlett, 64, being treated for throat cancer at a hospital in Germany, was named today as a suspect in her abduction after it emerged he was living in a motor home an hour's drive from where she vanished.
Hewlett is wanted for questioning by Manchester police over the abduction and sexual abuse of an eight-year-old girl in the city in 1975. West Yorkshire Police also would like to quiz him over a series of “serious offences”.
The Standard understands the two forces as well as Leicestershire Police, which is coordinating the Madeleine investigation, held a conference call yesterday to discuss the next action.
It is thought Portuguese police are also investigating Hewlett's movements in the Algarve at the time three-year-old Madeleine vanished on 3 May, 2007.
Investigators working for her parents Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire, are due to fly back to the UK after several days spent in Portugal chasing “five or six” new leads.
Investigators will want to know why Hewlett checked out of a hospital in Faro in the Algarve where he was being treated for cancer only to re-emerge in Germany.
The McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell told the Standard today: “Hewlett is somebody we have been looking at for a little while. But he is just one line of inquiry.”
Hewlett was not on a list of known paedophiles in the Algarve compiled by British and Portuguese police at the time Madeleine vanished from an apartment in Praia da Luz.
His presence in Portugal came to light when a couple who befriended him became suspicious of his past. Alan and Cindy Thompson met Hewlett around December 2006.
He was living in a travellers' camp in Tavira, about 70 miles from Praia da Luz, with his wife Monica and their six children.
Reader views (11)
The old saying is Hang a sheep thief young enough he won't steal anymore sheep. Hang them protect the children
- Ron, croydon, 26/05/2009 09:38
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What IS the world coming to ?!!!
- Becky, NC USA, 22/05/2009 21:09
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In God's name, what is a known paedophile [http://ie. a persistent child abuser|http://ie. a persistent child abuser] regularly doing anywhere near,
let alone living with, six children; be they his own or anyone elses kids?
He really does look alarmingly like the eyewitness look-alike-sketch of a suspected chalet 'stalker', that the police eventually released for publication by the media a couple of weeks ago.
- Dave, Cumbria, 22/05/2009 15:10
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Why the hell is this dirty pervert allowed to have any children near him including his own????
- Karenf, London, 22/05/2009 14:31
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- Lc, London
They shouldn't have their liberty in the first place. What the hell is this vermin doing walking the streets, let alone having a holiday?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 22/05/2009 13:30
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His extradition is not just about the Maddy case Gary from BRENTWOOD...its about other cases stretching back a long time - so what's your problem if the Maddie case has finally allowed them to cathc up with him??? Pathetic little comments like this will make people think you have some kind of sympathy for animals like this...
- Nicky, london, 22/05/2009 11:14
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So let me get this, he is a suspect because he was living 70 miles away at the time the girl disapered?
Gee i dont know how the POlice missed that
- Lc, London, 22/05/2009 10:49
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Yes, its a shame all the other missing children do not have as much attention although it doesn't mean Madeline deserves any less
- Julia Harley, Perthshire, Scotland, 22/05/2009 10:38
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"Shame all the other missing children do not have as much attention"
excellent point, although this case is tragic, their are so many other cases that don't get the attention needed.
- Tv'S, Cowdenbeath, 22/05/2009 10:38
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So with that logic Gary we should urge all newspapers and news outlets to ignore this case ... simply because other missing children cases don't receive as much attention?
- Chris, London, 22/05/2009 10:22
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Shame all the other missing children do not have as much attention
- Gary, Brentwood, 22/05/2009 09:54
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