I fled criminals in the UK for a quiet life abroad, only to meet Christian Brueckner among Portugal’s drifters – but police STILL won’t listen to what I have to say about the chief Madeleine McCann suspect [Video]

08:31 EDT 27 Apr 2024, updated 08:33 EDT 27 Apr 2024

In 2004, Ken Ralphs left the UK with his wife Hazel for a new life in Portugal.

But unlike many expats who choose sunnier climbs over Britain, Ken was not motivated by weather or the cuisine.

Instead, he was fleeing for his life – a decision that would see him cross paths with Christian Brueckner, the chief suspect in Madeleine McCann‘s disappearance.

Ken, now 59, had responded to a police appeal over the horrific 1999 murder in Stockport of small-time drug dealer David Barnshaw, who on September 20 was bundled into his own car, forced to drink petrol and burned alive.

The shocking case shone a spotlight on Manchester’s criminal underworld, and through his close work within the local community, Ken came across a phone number he thought would be of interest to the police investigating the killing.

This information led to several arrests, but the accused were acquitted.

…