[Loukas]

This is the man suspected of snatching four-year-old Maddie McCann.
It is the FIRST detailed likeness of a stalker thought to have kidnapped the toddler. And it's based on sensational new clues unearthed by the News of the World.



As a massive new manhunt began last night a McCann family source said: "This is a stunning breakthrough.

A British woman who came face to face with the suspected Maddie McCann kidnapper revealed last night: "He made my blood run cold and gave me the creeps."

Granny Gail Cooper, 50, was staying just 600 YARDS from the McCann family's Portuguese holiday flat when she had THREE separate chilling encounters with the moustachioed mystery man.

After the News of the World probed her evidence further, McCann investigators analysed her detailed description.

It tied in uncannily with descriptions by family friend Jane Tanner of a man seen carrying a child in pink pyjamas from the resort of Praia da Luz the night Maddie vanished.

Based on Mrs Cooper's evidence an FBI-trained police artist produced the the FIRST detailed likenesses of the stalker—pictured above.

And last night, armed with the new pictures, detectives in Portugal and Britain were joined by Interpol in a desperate race to trace the suspect.

The man is 38 to 45, with sallow skin, lank dark hair, distinctive droopy moustache, large teeth and speaks broken English.

As the dramatic development raised the McCann family's hopes a source at the heart of the probe admitted: "This is a stunning breakthrough. We now have a manhunt. Where is this man now? We need to find him as soon as possible."

Over the last seven days Spanish private eyes Metodo 3 and the Find Madeleine campaign worked round the clock after the News of the World conducted a detailed review of the case. We studied all material in the public domain homing in on witness reports we felt had been overlooked.

When we spoke to Mrs Cooper at length it soon became clear vital clues were buried in her account of a "creepy man" loitering at the resort.

Two of her sightings were also witnessed by her husband. And we can also reveal that a NEW witness, a 12-year-old girl, has come forward to back up her story.

Mrs Cooper first spotted the man on the beach at Praia da Luz on April 20 at about 1pm when she went for lunch with friends at the Paraiso Restaurant.

Strange

She said: "He was wandering about on the beach alone even though it was pouring down with rain. There wasn't another soul about. I watched him for a few minutes before I went back to chatting to my friends."

Later that day, at around 4pm, Mrs Cooper was startled to find the stranger knocking on the front door of her holiday villa.

She said: "He must have seen my husband leaving because the bell rang only seconds later.

"He flashed what he said was an identity card but it could have been anything.

"He seemed really strange. It was a warm afternoon but he was wearing khaki trousers or joggers, a T-shirt and a bomber jacket. He said he was collecting for an orphanage in nearby Espiche that was caring for three children whose parents had recently been killed in an accident on the main coast road.

"It just didn't add up. Everyone would have known if there had been a tragedy like that.

"The man was rambling and becoming agitated. He really unnerved me even though my two grown-up daughters and two grandchildren were with me.

"I thought he was a conman trying to pull a fast one."


Mrs Cooper also said her eight-year-old grand-daughter had been playing on her own in the pool near the villa and was clearly visible from the road.

She added: "This man was very unpleasant and creepy. I'd put his age at 38 to 45. He was very scruffy and had a 70s-style black Mexican moustache.

"He wasn't Portuguese—I think he was North African, either Tunisian or Moroccan."

Mrs Cooper, a community healthcare co-ordinator from Newark, Notts, added: "In my job I have to assess people and make a judgement.

"My judgement is that this man was very suspicious and could have been the kidnapper everyone is searching for.

"I'd recognise him immediately if I saw him. His appearance has really stuck in my mind."

We can confirm the orphanage does NOT exist and that there is no evidence of the fatal car crash. Mrs Cooper saw the man a third time, two days later on April 22, as she lunched with her husband Jonathan at Bar Habana on the beach.

There was a children's outing there from the Mark Warner Ocean Club at the same time. The man was again alone and standing near the group of youngsters. Mrs Cooper said: "He looked odd and out of place."

When Madeleine arrived at the resort just a week later, the youngster went to the beach three days in a row with the children's club, including May 3, the day of her disappearance.

Although Mrs Cooper rang police on May 7 and gave a statement at her home on May 21 she heard no more. But it is now clear how important her account—and the facial likeness built from it—may be. On the night Madeleine vanished from the apartment while parents Kate and Gerry—both Leicestershire doctors—were dining at a nearby tapas restaurant, family friend Jane Tanner saw a man carrying a child away from the apartment on foot at 9.10pm.

Jane has now told the McCanns: "The man in the new suspect picture strongly resembles the person I saw on May 3rd."

The sketch by qualified police artist Melissa Little, bears an uncanny resemblance to an earlier picture, based on Jane Tanner's story.

Last night the McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell said the new image had been passed to officers from the Leicestershire Constabulary, Portuguese police and Interpol. They hope the hunt will also be joined by forces in Spain and Morocco.



Metodo 3 believe the kidnapper may have had accomplices in Praia da Luz who helped spirit Madeleine away to the Moroccan hills.

If you have any information about the man in the new picture contact the confidential phone line 0034 902 300 213 based in Spain now. A specially-trained team will take your call in any language.
Mr Mitchell said: "We urgently need to know who this man is and where he is.

"For Madeleine's sake, we urge anyone with any information about him to come forward right away."

[XxShortyxX]

They have made him look evil and scary looking.

[Loukas]

Originally posted by XxShortyxX
They have made him look evil and scary looking.

i no that picture is quite scary

[Spike]

Did that guy take Maddie?

No, because I believe the parents have killed her or she had an accident and died and they are trying to cover it up.


He does look disgusting though, he needs a to get his self sorted out..

[MarkWaldorf]

I hate to say it, because I was completely against anyone saying it back in the summer last year, but I think she may have been killed by now. It's been too long, and the kidnapper must have known that this case was too highly publicised to keep her alive with him.

[supernoodles!]

spike i couldnt agree with you more.Maybe this man helped in covering up the crime in some way but i still say the parents know exactly what happened whatever that may be.

[Corkie]

Well you wouldn't want to see that man when you first woke up.

I personally think that the parents had nothing to do with it, or maybe i'm just naive.

[Shaun]

Yes, he did.

I don't know. And nobody probably ever will do.

[Sticks]

According to the crime statistics the majority of homicides are committed by a close family member and all the reported forensic evidence analysed by British scientists points the fingers of suspicion at Kate and Gerry McCann

[:)tom:)]

I dont think it has anythink to do with the parents, they have been watched and studied by so many people on our screens every day. they could not keep it up this long without somebody noticing something they have done to do with her.

i think maddie died within the first few days, i just cannot see how after this long the kidnapper would have her alive with all the pubblicity.

[andybigbro]

That Man is scary

I Really hope that they find him. I also Hope she is still alive

[Xander]

I think all this publicity is wrong, i no its trying to get everyones attention and higlight the fact she is missing, but there are other kids her age, and no different to her that are going missing, but maddie deserves more attention?

[Lauren]

No, that picture looks nothing like Gerry.

[Billy]

I think she's alive and been sold at a black market etc. I think they would have found her body by now if she was dead.

[andybigbro]

Whats a black market?

[Lauren]

Originally posted by andybigbro
Whats a black market?

Criminal acitivity, like if you sell drugs you'll be selling them on the black market.

There's a black market for the sex trade too, where young girls are kidnapped and sold on as sex slaves or sold onto brothels who force them into prostitution. It's not an actual 'market', just refers to criminal activity.

[Sticks]

The original black market was in World War 2 when people tried to beat rationing by buying stuff under the counter as it were.