Maddie case suspect now 'close to death'

Former Shropshire paedophile Raymond Hewlett, who is wanted for questioning by detectives working for Madeleine McCann's parents, is close to death, it was reported today.

Hewlett, 64, who used to live in Woodside, Telford, can no longer speak because of throat cancer and currently lives in a flat in Aachen in Germany.

He denies any involvement in the case of the missing girl but has refused to speak to British detectives working for Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann. The investigators now fear he will take any information he has to the grave.

His lawyer Detlev Wagner has been reported as saying: "He could not talk to them even if he wanted to. He is gravely ill. He does not have long for this world."

Hewlett still has family connections to Shropshire.

His daughter Gina, who is said to have broken all ties with her father, declined to comment on reports of his ill health.

She said: "I would rather not make any comment.

"I don't have anything to say. I don't want to make any statement right now."

Hewlett came to the attention of detectives hunting for Madeleine, who was three when she disappeared, when it emerged the former car dealer was living about an hour's drive from the McCanns' holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in 2007.

Madeleine disappeared while her parents dined with friends nearby.

Hewlett was jailed for kidnapping a schoolgirl in Cheshire while living in Wellsfield, Woodside.

He was also convicted of several offences against young girls, and received a six-year jail sentence in 1988.

Detectives working for the McCanns went to Germany to speak to Hewlett earlier this year but he refused to speak to them.

Numerous requests to interview him were all turned down.

His lawyers claimed he was ready for an interview with the detective but broke it off because they became "too pushy".

Hewlett has constantly denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance which prompted a high profile international hunt.

In June he said: "It's obvious why they're interested in me.

"But they can all think what they like.

"I didn't kill the McCann girl.

"It's the truth and it's never going to change."

By Iain St John