What do we know about the sexual intrusions in the Algarve?

[ShiningInLuz]

I have chunked my way through paedophilia in Holland, Spain, Portugal, the USA and world-wide.

The last piece of this putrid puzzle I need is the bit that relates specifically to the Madeleine McCann incident.  That is, sexual assaults upon minors, in the Algarve, around the time Madeleine disappeared.

I can dig my own way through this issue, but it strikes me it would be easier if forum members chipped in with their personal understanding.

35

[slartibartfast]

There is a lot of press references to it and a few statements from SY that mention it.

[sadie]

I have chunked my way through paedophilia in Holland, Spain, Portugal, the USA and world-wide.

The last piece of this putrid puzzle I need is the bit that relates specifically to the Madeleine McCann incident.  That is, sexual assaults upon minors, in the Algarve, around the time Madeleine disappeared.

I can dig my own way through this issue, but it strikes me it would be easier if forum members chipped in with their personal understanding.

Cant help you, sorry

But there certainly were some reported on here, maybe before you joined the forum?

They should still be there if you can find the trigger word ... and if the "search" facility works for you. 

[mercury]

As i was sayng in answer to the OP the only info available is a few newspaper reports in portugal describing child molestation or sitting on a childs bed gawping at them

No evidence of rape murder or abduction

[slartibartfast]

As i was sayng in answer to the OP the only info available is a few newspaper reports in portugal describing child molestation or sitting on a childs bed gawping at them

No evidence of rape murder or abduction

It was difficult to work out when or if the offences were reported to the police. There was an impression that people came forward as part of the appeal.

[Benice]

It was difficult to work out when or if the offences were reported to the police. There was an impression that people came forward as part of the appeal.

IIRC -  more parents of sexually assaulted children came forward as a result of the appeal.

In her book Kate quotes part of a letter of complaint by one of the parents and sent to the GNR about 'the sexual abuse of her daughter and the lack of proper attention paid to it :-

Quote

It is difficult to see with this lack of investigation or interest how a profile of this man can be built up.  It did not appear to us that there was any great incentive or determination to find the offender and bring him to justice....... Furthermore, it could all have been so much worse......indeed this man could go on to do much worse to another child if he's not stopped now.
End quote

Also IIRC DCI Redwood asked for people to contact them even if they had reported the crime to the police in PT - as it could be that SY had no information or knowledge of their particular child's sexual assault.  (from memory)

[slartibartfast]

IIRC -  more parents of sexually assaulted children came forward as a result of the appeal.

In her book Kate quotes part of a letter of complaint by one of the parents and sent to the GNR about 'the sexual abuse of her daughter and the lack of proper attention paid to it :-

Quote

It is difficult to see with this lack of investigation or interest how a profile of this man can be built up.  It did not appear to us that there was any great incentive or determination to find the offender and bring him to justice....... Furthermore, it could all have been so much worse......indeed this man could go on to do much worse to another child if he's not stopped now.
End quote

Also IIRC DCI Redwood asked for people to contact them even if they had reported the crime to the police in PT - as it could be that SY had no information or knowledge of their particular child's sexual assault.  (from memory)

Interestingly the book implies that the reports on the assaults are in the files which AFAIK they aren't.

[Alfie]

Interestingly the book implies that the reports on the assaults are in the files which AFAIK they aren't.

I thought it was common knowledge that those reports were left out of the files that were posted on the net?

[ferryman]

I thought it was common knowledge that those reports were left out of the files that were posted on the net?

Yes.

Not everything committed to the archiving dispatch washed up online. 

[Benice]

Interestingly the book implies that the reports on the assaults are in the files which AFAIK they aren't.

On the contrary, Kate doesn't 'imply' - she makes it clear that information about sexual assaults on UK children was contained in the files in their possession.

Pages 322 onwards show that to be the case in several places -  including this extract on page 323. 

Quote

Page 322  -In the meantime I set to work on the files.       

........................SNIP.......................................

Page 323 .   These incidents had occurred within an hour's drive of Praia da Luz over the three years prior to Madeleine's disappearance.  The PJ had never mentioned any of them to us.   In fact I gathered from the files, some them hadn't even been recorded by the authorities at the time they were reported (evidently they were not considered to be actual crimes)  So they might never have come to light if the parents of these children hadn't been brave enough to come forward to the British Police after Madeleine was taken and relive their nightmares.   They did so in the belief that there could be a link between what happened to their chidren and what had happened to her.

It broke my heart to read the terrible accounts................. etc etc
end quote

[ferryman]

On the contrary, Kate doesn't 'imply' - she makes it clear that information about sexual assaults on UK children was contained in the files in their possession.

Pages 322 onwards show that to be the case in several places -  including this extract on page 323. 

Quote

Page 322  -In the meantime I set to work on the files.       

........................SNIP.......................................

Page 323 .   These incidents had occurred within an hour's drive of Praia da Luz over the three years prior to Madeleine's disappearance.  The PJ had never mentioned any of them to us.   In fact I gathered from the files, some them hadn't even been recorded by the authorities at the time they were reported (evidently they were not considered to be actual crimes)  So they might never have come to light if the parents of these children hadn't been brave enough to come forward to the British Police after Madeleine was taken and relive their nightmares.   They did so in the belief that there could be a link between what happened to their chidren and what had happened to her.

It broke my heart to read the terrible accounts................. etc etc
end quote

Is right, Benice.

And Slarti overlooks that not everything in the archiving dispatch washed-up on line.

[ShiningInLuz]

On the contrary, Kate doesn't 'imply' - she makes it clear that information about sexual assaults on UK children was contained in the files in their possession.

Pages 322 onwards show that to be the case in several places -  including this extract on page 323. 

Quote

Page 322  -In the meantime I set to work on the files.       

........................SNIP.......................................

Page 323 .   These incidents had occurred within an hour's drive of Praia da Luz over the three years prior to Madeleine's disappearance.  The PJ had never mentioned any of them to us.   In fact I gathered from the files, some them hadn't even been recorded by the authorities at the time they were reported (evidently they were not considered to be actual crimes)  So they might never have come to light if the parents of these children hadn't been brave enough to come forward to the British Police after Madeleine was taken and relive their nightmares.   They did so in the belief that there could be a link between what happened to their chidren and what had happened to her.

It broke my heart to read the terrible accounts................. etc etc
end quote

I can't see how they could both be in the PJ Files and simultaneously not be recorded by the PJ.

Having reread the relevant pages in the book (thank you) Kate appears to be describing a process whereby information was becoming public by UK people going to the UK police with these incidents in the light of media coverage of Madeleine's case.

There's no evidence these assaults were linked by the PJ to Madeleine. The process described by Andy Redwood suggests the PJ were not linking them to each other either.  This line of thought seems to have into effect by about March 2014, when Redwood and co were appealing for more information on the topic from the public.

As to the media, how much of this had been aired in the time before Kate's book was written?

As to the British Consul, Kate has a guess about his source of information.

[jassi]

I can't see how they could both be in the PJ Files and simultaneously not be recorded by the PJ.

Having reread the relevant pages in the book (thank you) Kate appears to be describing a process whereby information was becoming public by UK people going to the UK police with these incidents in the light of media coverage of Madeleine's case.

There's no evidence these assaults were linked by the PJ to Madeleine. The process described by Andy Redwood suggests the PJ were not linking them to each other either.  This line of thought seems to have into effect by about March 2014, when Redwood and co were appealing for more information on the topic from the public.

As to the media, how much of this had been aired in the time before Kate's book was written?

As to the British Consul, Kate has a guess about his source of information.

There doesn't seem to be any evidence that OG have linked them to Madeleine either.

[Brietta]

There doesn't seem to be any evidence that OG have linked them to Madeleine either.

Madeleine McCann: British police now investigating 18 linked break-ins by a lone paedophile prowler at Algarve villas
06:58, 24 APR 2014
BY TOM PETTIFOR

DETECTIVES looking for Madeleine McCann are investigating a sex assault on a 10-year-old girl from the UK at the same Algarve resort two years before Maddie vanished.

BRITISH police looking for Madeleine McCann are investigating a sex assault on a 10-year-old girl from the UK in the same resort.

The 10-year-old was attacked in Praia da Luz two years before Maddie vanished, but details of the crime have only just been reported to Scotland Yard.

Detectives are now looking at EIGHTEEN break-ins by a lone paedophile prowler at Algarve villas to see if they are linked to the McCann case. They appealed last month for information to help them trace a smelly, pot-bellied intruder, and more than 500 people have come forward with information so far.

But they fear that Portuguese police who investigated the break-ins at the time may have left vital forensic clues languishing in storage.

The 10-year-old victim of the newly reported assault was molested by an intruder in 2005 at a villa in Praia da Luz.

It happened a few hundred yards from the villa where Madeleine, three, disappeared in 2007 while on holiday with her parents, brother and sister.

The new victim came forward after last month’s Scotland Yard appeal. She is now 19, and it’s believed she may have only just revealed what happened to her.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, leading the Scotland Yard team, said: “This offence now takes us into the resort, so of course it is very significant.

“Clearly the fact that we’ve now got an assault in the heart of Praia da Luz means we are even more interested in this as part of the inquiry.”

DCI Redwood’s appeal in March also led to reports of four more new sex assaults and one “near miss”.

Five of the new incidents were reported to local police at the time, but the Portuguese did not tell the Scotland Yard team about them.

And DCI Redwood fears other important evidence may have been forgotten.

He believes local officers on the Algarve may have gathered forensics from the attack scenes which could unlock the mystery – but then failed to tell the country’s national force, the Policia Judiciaria, about them.

He said: “If there’s a breakdown in communication between local cops and the Policia Judiciaria, there could be forensic material sitting in exhibit stores somewhere that we and the PJ are not aware of.”

The newly reported attacks happened between 2004 and 2006 and involved British girls aged between six and 12.

DCI Redwood said he was “extremely positive” about where the new reports could lead.

He said: “They all pre-date the disappearance of Madeleine. They give us a real, clear focus going forward.

“For every singleone, this has been a horrendous experience. This is your worst nightmare.”

Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, welcomed the new developments.

Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “The fact new information is coming out shows the scale of work yet to be done, and Kate and Gerry hope it can be completed as soon as possible.”

Scotland Yard yesterday said they are waiting for agreement from the Portuguese to begin “operational activity” on the Algarve as early next week. This could involve making arrests and questioning witnesses, in co-operation with the Portuguese police.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said: “I am cautiously optimistic that in the not-too-distant future we are going to start to see activity.”

The British detectives want to speak to a number of suspects in Portugal but cannot arrest people or do interviews themselves. They can only accompany Portuguese officers.

A source close to Kate and Gerry said: “It appears the Yard have X, Y and Z they want to interview out there
but they won’t have the power to do it themselves.

“Any arrests and formal interviews will be conducted by the Portuguese police with Met officers sitting in on them.

“They can’t be the lead police force in a foreign country and just go and knock doors. They have to be hosted.

“It’s very frustrating for them. And the fact that previous attacks haven’t been fully investigated by the Portuguese authorities shows a degree of incompetence.”

Anyone with information can call police on 0207 321 9251 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/madeleine-mccann-british-police-now-3448321

[Alice Purjorick]

Madeleine McCann: British police now investigating 18 linked break-ins by a lone paedophile prowler at Algarve villas
06:58, 24 APR 2014
BY TOM PETTIFOR

DETECTIVES looking for Madeleine McCann are investigating a sex assault on a 10-year-old girl from the UK at the same Algarve resort two years before Maddie vanished.

BRITISH police looking for Madeleine McCann are investigating a sex assault on a 10-year-old girl from the UK in the same resort.

The 10-year-old was attacked in Praia da Luz two years before Maddie vanished, but details of the crime have only just been reported to Scotland Yard.

Detectives are now looking at EIGHTEEN break-ins by a lone paedophile prowler at Algarve villas to see if they are linked to the McCann case. They appealed last month for information to help them trace a smelly, pot-bellied intruder, and more than 500 people have come forward with information so far.

But they fear that Portuguese police who investigated the break-ins at the time may have left vital forensic clues languishing in storage.

The 10-year-old victim of the newly reported assault was molested by an intruder in 2005 at a villa in Praia da Luz.

It happened a few hundred yards from the villa where Madeleine, three, disappeared in 2007 while on holiday with her parents, brother and sister.

The new victim came forward after last month’s Scotland Yard appeal. She is now 19, and it’s believed she may have only just revealed what happened to her.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, leading the Scotland Yard team, said: “This offence now takes us into the resort, so of course it is very significant.

“Clearly the fact that we’ve now got an assault in the heart of Praia da Luz means we are even more interested in this as part of the inquiry.”

DCI Redwood’s appeal in March also led to reports of four more new sex assaults and one “near miss”.

Five of the new incidents were reported to local police at the time, but the Portuguese did not tell the Scotland Yard team about them.

And DCI Redwood fears other important evidence may have been forgotten.

He believes local officers on the Algarve may have gathered forensics from the attack scenes which could unlock the mystery – but then failed to tell the country’s national force, the Policia Judiciaria, about them.

He said: “If there’s a breakdown in communication between local cops and the Policia Judiciaria, there could be forensic material sitting in exhibit stores somewhere that we and the PJ are not aware of.”

The newly reported attacks happened between 2004 and 2006 and involved British girls aged between six and 12.

DCI Redwood said he was “extremely positive” about where the new reports could lead.

He said: “They all pre-date the disappearance of Madeleine. They give us a real, clear focus going forward.

“For every singleone, this has been a horrendous experience. This is your worst nightmare.”

Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, welcomed the new developments.

Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “The fact new information is coming out shows the scale of work yet to be done, and Kate and Gerry hope it can be completed as soon as possible.”

Scotland Yard yesterday said they are waiting for agreement from the Portuguese to begin “operational activity” on the Algarve as early next week. This could involve making arrests and questioning witnesses, in co-operation with the Portuguese police.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said: “I am cautiously optimistic that in the not-too-distant future we are going to start to see activity.”

The British detectives want to speak to a number of suspects in Portugal but cannot arrest people or do interviews themselves. They can only accompany Portuguese officers.

A source close to Kate and Gerry said: “It appears the Yard have X, Y and Z they want to interview out there
but they won’t have the power to do it themselves.

“Any arrests and formal interviews will be conducted by the Portuguese police with Met officers sitting in on them.

“They can’t be the lead police force in a foreign country and just go and knock doors. They have to be hosted.

“It’s very frustrating for them. And the fact that previous attacks haven’t been fully investigated by the Portuguese authorities shows a degree of incompetence.”

Anyone with information can call police on 0207 321 9251 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/madeleine-mccann-british-police-now-3448321

Giving it a quick thrash through the jolly old winnowing macheeny we get the bits in bold as kosher comment from the Runners.
Not alot there. Oh what surprise.