Madeleine McCann suspect Christian B ‘boasted about being a master criminal who could outwit cops’ after ‘snatching tot’

THE prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance boasted about being a "master criminal", a leading witness has revealed.

Christian B, 45, is also alleged to have bragged about how he could outwit cops - telling pals it was easier to get away with crimes in Portugal than in Germany.

Former friend-turned-police informer Helge ­B is understood to have told police of Christian B's gloats amid a fresh probe into the convicted sex offender.

Helge B, 52, met his fellow German a year before Maddie vanished aged three and was the person who identified Christian B to cops in connection with the tot's disappearance.

A source in Portugal who is close to the investigation told The Sun: “Helge B has spoken at length to officers about the time he spent with Christian B, where they were carrying out crimes together side by side. 

“He told them how Christian B often boasted of being really, really good at what he did, a master criminal and how the police were useless.

"He was particularly disparaging about Portuguese officers saying it was much easier to get away with stuff in Portugal than in Germany.”

It comes after The Sun on Sunday revealed how Helge B claimed Christian B had a burglary tool kit that could unlock any security door.

He boasted about the tools, which raise fresh doubts over the official theory that ­Maddie’s kidnapper clambered in through a window of holiday apartment 5a in Praia da Luz.

German police are said to be “electrified” by the lock pick kit discovery — and are also probing the possibility Christian B used car paint solvent to sedate Maddie.

In an exclusive interview from a secret location, Helge B — now in German police witness protection — told filmmaker Jutta Rabe for The Sun on Sunday: “He came through the door.”

German prosecutors hope to use the lock picks evidence to nail Christian B, who is in jail for drugs crimes and appealing a seven-year sentence for raping a woman of 72.

Helge B said he found the kit at Christian B's Algarve home.

The petty criminal had decided to ransack it with friend Manfred Seyferth after learning Christian B was serving time for theft.

Helge B, who kept the kit and told German police about it, added: “You can use it to pick any lock, including security locks.”

The 14 picks, seen by The Sun on Sunday, are black stainless steel and each is designed for a ­specific door type.

Police in Portugal have always said the man who snatched Maddie broke in through the window and either left through a door with her or climbed back out.

It has been reported that the metal window shutters of the apartment were rolled all the way up, and a curtain was blowing, after little Maddie went missing.

But when asked how Christian B got into the McCanns’ holiday home, Helge B replied: “Through the door. Easily. He can open any door.”

Insiders close to the German police probe, which was opened when Helge B gave detectives Christian B's name in 2017, said cops believe the window theory is a “red herring”.

Meanwhile, Helge B also claimed Christian B "confessed" to kidnapping Maddie.

Speaking with German paper Bild, he revealed how his blood ran cold the day the convicted paedophile told him that "she didn't scream" shortly after Maddie disappeared.

He also described chilling footage he saw on a video camera he stole from the suspect.

But in a shock twist, the pal described how Scotland Yard ignored him when he raised concerns about Christian B - years before the German was declared a suspect.