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SUSPECT'S LAIR

Ex-pal of ‘nervy’ Madeleine McCann suspect says he slept in his attic and grew cannabis months after she disappeared

THE "NERVOUS" suspect in the Madeleine McCann investigation slept in a pal's attic in Germany and grew cannabis when he left Portugal a short while after the three-year-old girl disappeared in 2007.

Christian B arrived at the house in Braunschweig, near Hanover, telling landlord Alexander Bischof he was "between jobs and had no money" and missed his English girlfriend, the Daily Mail reports.

 Christian B slept in a pal's attic after returning from Portugal shortly after Madeleine disappeared
Christian B slept in a pal's attic after returning from Portugal shortly after Madeleine disappearedCredit: Bild
 Little Madeleine vanished from her parent's hotel room in May, 2007
Little Madeleine vanished from her parent's hotel room in May, 2007Credit: PA:Press Association
 The suspect is believed to have been driving the Jag at the time of Madeleine's disappearance
The suspect is believed to have been driving the Jag at the time of Madeleine's disappearanceCredit: Reuters

Mr Bischof agreed to have Christian B.'s Jaguar registered in his name as a "favour" after they were introduced by a mutual acquaintance.

Christian B had re-registered his 1993 Jaguar XJR6  on May 4, 2007 - the day after Madeleine vanished and it is now part of the police investigation into the little girl's disappearance.

Mr Bischof, 64, told the Daily Mail: "He was always anxious, never relaxed. His eyes would always dart around the room when you were trying to have a conversation.

"He was always a little nervous. He just couldn't hold down a job and I tried to encourage him to do so.

'I WAS BAFFLED'

"He said he grew up in an orphanage and never ever mentioned any family.

"He never really stayed in one place. He only talked about his girlfriend Maria – I think she was English and was working in Portugal.

"He said he missed her all the time."

Both men shared a "passion for Jaguar vehicles" after being introduced by their mutual acquaintance.

But Mr Bischof booted Christian B out  when he discovered he was a drug dealer who was drying marijuana in his attic.

He said: "He was using my living space and is then dealing drugs. That's a no-go, I thought."

After Christian B left the house, police searched Mr Bischof's attic, mentioning "Maddie" and a "murder" and showing a particular interest in Christian B's Jaguar

Mr Bischof added: "I was baffled. I was stunned, it was unbelievable. I would never have thought that of him.

"He never spoke a word about such things. We never talked about young children, our talks were always dealing with cars, football and Portugal. Men's stuff."

'I NEVER HEARD FROM HIM AGAIN'

Yesterday, it was revealed police are readying to dig up land around two Portuguese properties where Christian B lived.

One home, a farmhouse, is just 25 minutes' walk from the hotel where the three-year-old went missing 13 years ago.

When he returned from Portugal, Christian B had lots of expensive items and Mr Bischof realised he had been stealing.

He said: "He had a very expensive camera and also a laptop. He even came back with a Rolex once and even a Breitling watch.

"He was trying to sell them, but I started to realise that he was stealing while working in his jobs in the hotels there."

Mr Bischof also said Christian B was "proud" to have worked out how to dry the cannabis in his roof before selling it.

He added: "I thought something is not right with this man. It was not good for me or my mother and wife who lived here too.

"My wife never liked him. When he entered the room, she would leave."

A few weeks after they went their separate ways, Mr Bischof wrote to him and urged him to get "on the right path".

He said: "'I said it was only a matter of time before he would end up in the jailhouse and that he needed to sort out his ways. I never heard from him again."

 Madeleine's Parents Kate and Gerry McCann have refused to give up hope over their daughter since she vanished
Madeleine's Parents Kate and Gerry McCann have refused to give up hope over their daughter since she vanishedCredit: PA:Press Association
 A house where Christian B used to live, in Lagos, southern Portugal
A house where Christian B used to live, in Lagos, southern PortugalCredit: EPA