The main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann called a woman who was a member of a paedophile ring just hours after the British toddler vanished, a court heard.
A German court was told that the woman provided young girls for convicted rapist Christian Brueckner.
Convicted criminal, Helge Busching gave evidence against the 47-year-old, who is accused of rape and sexual abuse offences not related to McCann.
Busching claimed that a 13-year-old who was allegedly recorded being raped by Brueckner while being tied to a post had been supplied by the woman.
Christian Brueckner called a woman who was a member of a paedophile ring just hours after the British toddler vanished, a court heard
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He told the court: "I was told Christian Brueckner brought a woman washing machines and instead of paying him for it, she provided him with young girls."
Brueckner phoned the woman - who cannot be named under German law - following the disappearance of McCann in 2007.
She was interviewed by police but the sex offender told her that same night he was driving in his camper van to her home, which is located 20 miles from Praia da Luz from Tomar in Portugal.
The court also heard evidence from Michael Tatschl who claimed Brueckner took McCann to be sold to a paedophile ring.
However, he also previously suggested the suspect had killed the toddler.
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He told the court that it was his "suspicion" that Bruekner had taken the three-year-old to be sold as he "wanted money".
Tatschl added that the paedophile ring was most likely based in Morocco.
Speaking at Braunschweig regional court, the 50-year-old said: "Brueckner broke into houses, tourists’ houses, at night when they were not there.
"And he would even break in when they were sleeping and also if they were up on the first or second floors."
He added: "He told me he once went into a room when three teenage girls were sleeping and he went in naked. A girl woke up and screamed.
Helge Busching gave evidence against Christian Brueckner, who is accused of rape and sexual abuse offences not related to McCann
ReutersBrueckner has continuously denied any involvement in McCann's disappearance.
He is currently on trial for the rape of a woman in her 70s in her home in the Algarve and the rape and sexual assault of a teenage girl.
He also faces allegations that he raped a young woman at knifepoint in her home in 2004 - an act he is accused of recording on video.
The court also heard that he masturbated in front of a girl at a playground in Messines in June 2017 and faces claims he did the same in front of another girl, on Salema beach, Portugal, in April 2007.
