ANTHONY WOODHOUSE FROM KINGTON LINKED TO MADELEINE MCCANN DISAPPEARANCE AND PORTUGAL CRIMES

In a development that has reignited public interest in the Madeleine McCann case, Anthony Woodhouse, a convicted sex offender from Kington, was subjected to intense questioning by Scotland Yard officers regarding the mysterious disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The interrogation took place at Channings Wood prison in Devon, where Woodhouse is currently incarcerated. The questioning session lasted approximately two hours, during which authorities sought to establish any possible connections or relevant information that could shed light on the case.

Woodhouse, aged 68, was already known to law enforcement for his criminal past, which includes a conviction for the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Hertfordshire back in 1998. At the time of Madeleine’s disappearance from her holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007, Woodhouse was reportedly on the run abroad, having fled the UK to evade justice. He had been living in Portugal for several years, operating a cleaning business in the Algarve region, which was of particular interest to investigators.

An eyewitness account detailed that Woodhouse was taken into a private room by officers for a lengthy discussion, during which they focused on his proximity to the area where Madeleine was last seen. The witness noted that, in the days following the police interview, Woodhouse was subjected to hostility from fellow inmates. They would chant “Give her back” as he moved through the prison corridors, reflecting the public’s ongoing concern and the inmate community’s awareness of the case.

During the interrogation, detectives in plain clothes also inquired about Woodhouse’s activities in Portugal, specifically his management of a cleaning business at the time Madeleine went missing. They questioned him about his whereabouts before and after the abduction, seeking any potential links or suspicious behavior. Woodhouse’s return to the UK in 2008 marked the end of his decade-long flight, as he voluntarily surrendered himself to authorities, reportedly overwhelmed by guilt after admitting to the crime of rape to the British embassy in Lisbon.

In the broader context of the Madeleine case, British police are currently examining a list of 38 potential suspects, including 12 from the UK, as part of their ongoing investigation. The focus on Woodhouse emerged after authorities sought to trace six British cleaners working at the Praia da Luz resort around the time of Madeleine’s disappearance. Despite the intense scrutiny, a Scotland Yard spokesperson declined to comment publicly on the specifics of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, are preparing to mark her 11th birthday at their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, a poignant reminder of the unresolved tragedy that continues to haunt their family. The case remains one of the most high-profile missing persons investigations in recent history, with authorities still exploring all possible leads to find answers and justice for Madeleine.