The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has refused to be interviewed by Scotland Yard detectives ahead of his release.

Christian Brueckner, a convicted rapist, is set to get out of prison in his native Germany this week and could be allowed to leave the country with no restrictions.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police have been keen to question the notorious paedophile in connection with Madeleine’s disappearance from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia de Luz in 2007.

Brueckner, 49, was known to be in the area at the time and, five years ago, he was named as the prime suspect by the British, German and Portuguese authorities.

Scotland Yard submitted a formal request to interview the suspect ahead of his release but detectives said he had refused the request and they are powerless to enforce it.

It will come as a blow to the McCann family, who have never given up hope of finding out what happened to Madeleine, who went missing just days before her fourth birthday.