THE prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance has launched a bid to clear his name - as he begged pals to defend him in court.

       Christian B, 46, has made desperate attempts for support if he is made to stand trial on rape and child sex charges.

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       Christian B has asked pals to defend him in court if he has to stand trial on rape and child sex charges 3

       The 46-year-old has reportedly reached out to at least two pals in recent months Credit: The Sun

       The German convicted sex offender has started writing letters to his friends - urging them to defend him after moaning prosecutors were making him out to be a "monster".

       At least two former friends of Christian B have been contacted in recent months, according to The Mirror.

       The publication claim they were made aware of the letters by another ex-pal of Christian B - who is still in contact with his associates located in the Algarve, Portugal.

       They allegedly claimed they received the mysterious letters from the criminal after years of having no contact with him.

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       The pal was left "freaked out" when the messages suddenly arrived from Germany.

       It has been reported the letters were asking the old acquaintances to "speak in his defence, about what a good guy he was".

       Christian B is also allegedly under the impression that German cops and prosecutors are targeting him and making him out to be something he's not.

       The ex-pal said it was "outrageous" that Christian B would even consider requesting their defence in court as they are all fully aware of his "paedophile" background.

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       They also claimed the German national "doesn't stand a chance" when it comes to being backed in court.

       Christian B is currently being probed by German detectives over Madeleine 2007 disappearance - but the rape and child sex cases which he may soon go on trial over are not connected to McCann.

       The criminal was already awaiting trial for a number of rapes and child sexual assaults allegedly committed in Portugal.

       The charges were originally filed by prosecutors in Braunschweig as he had previously lived in the German city back in 2016.

       But Christian B's lawyer Friedrich Fuelscher claimed he was actually living in a warehouse in Neuwegersleben, Lower-Saxony, at the time which led to the charges being dropped - following a court ruling over who was had jurisdiction in the case.

       Christian B remains the main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine, who vanished in Praia da Luz, Portugal, at the age of three.

       In July, his ex-pal turned police informer Helge -B began assisting officers investigating the criminal.

       An insider told The Sun Online: "Helge spent many years at the side of Christian B travelling with him and being his partner in crime.

       "This means he has a huge amount of knowledge about where Christian was, what he was doing and what his motivations were for him being in particular places at specific times.

       "There are a number of leads and clues officers have on Christian that they think Helge could provide more information on.

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       "They genuinely do believe he can be a game-changer in their investigation into Christian B."

       Christian B has denied any involvement in the disappearance of Madeleine and is currently serving g a seven-year prison term for rape and drug trafficking and is due for release in 2026.

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       The German national remains the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann Credit: AFP