I looked Maddie suspect Christian Brueckner in the eyes in court and discovered haunting reason he should NEVER be free

TO the world he is notorious as the prime suspect over the abduction of Madeleine McCann.

But after sitting in court and watching him for six months during his trial I can tell you – our fears should not stop there.

Christian Brueckner, 48, is already a convicted rapist and a paedophile.

Psychiatrists say he is a clear danger to society. Such monsters will never change.

That is why our news now that he could be freed within days or weeks carries such gravity. The world needs to understand we face a very real race against time to keep him behind bars.

Two police cars were needed to escort his high-speed convoy in and out of court for every day of his trial with their lights and sirens blaring.

Tall, gaunt, seemingly unmoved by the occasion. His pock-marked face barely moved as he faced a barrage of claims of appalling rapes and sex crimes as they were put to him in Germany.

Yet between evidence Christian B still found it within him to arrogantly wink at his lawyers – to fist-bump – and even to smirk.

As the trial worked to appraise whether he played a part in the torturous crimes he was complaining to his legal team of not getting enough filling in his prison sandwiches.

For me, that told you everything you needed to know about his attitude. He acted like he didn’t care – like he wasn’t capable of caring about the trial. The indifferent look on his face made it seem like he could have been waiting for a bus.

But it worked for him. He remained silent – and he was cleared.

Perhaps his apparent indifference shouldn’t come as a surprise.

We know he was abused as a child – and became a paedophile while he was still a teenager.

We know he is a narcissist who it appears only puts his own pleasure and fulfilment first – no matter the often appalling cost to others.

Here are some of the facts the psychiatrist who assessed Christian B at his trial last year quoted to the court.

Dr Christian Riedemann said the German paedophile was a psychopath in the top “1% of abnormal”;.

He said Christian B refused to engage with psychiatrists at any time behind bars – but he was still said: “He is one of the absolute top dangerous people.”

Whatever happens – Christian B must not be allowed to walk free. That would surely spell disaster for the McCann case

Chillingly the psychiatrist added: “A new victim is to be expected soon.”

So we know this man poses an immediate threat to society. And police believe he is the only way to unlock the mysteries of Madeleine's disappearance and find justice for her.

Yet, somehow, he is on the path to freedom. Potentially not now in months, as we had feared – but in days or weeks. Our exclusive story shows just how fragile his incarceration is.

A court must reject his lawyers' pleas for an early release. If they do not an appeal must be allowed to hold him behind bars.

The prosecution say he must be brought back to court for a retrial on the matters he was cleared of last year.

And if all that fails – only one option remains. Prosecutors MUST be ready to charge him over the disappearance of Madeleine.

That could get them a new arrest warrant – and give them time to find the missing evidence they want to take him to court.

Whatever happens – Christian B must not be allowed to walk free. That would surely spell disaster for the McCann case.

His own lawyers have already hinted he would leave Germany once back on the streets. And if he vanishes – all hopes of justice for Maddie will surely vanish.

After 17 years of purgatory for the McCann family – that cannot be allowed to happen.