A Polish woman, Julia Wandelt, and her co-accused are facing allegations of stalking the family of Madeleine McCann, as revealed in court proceedings. The court was informed that despite Wandelt’s claims of memories related to the girl’s childhood and disappearance, scientific evidence confirms no familial connection between Wandelt, aged 24 from Lubin in south-west Poland, and the McCanns. Wandelt and Karen Spragg, aged 61 from Caerau, Cardiff, have pleaded not guilty to the charge of stalking causing serious alarm and distress to Kate and Gerry McCann during the period from June 2022 to February this year.
During the trial at Leicester Crown Court, it was outlined that Wandelt began asserting her identity as Madeleine to anyone who would listen starting in June 2022. Prosecutor Michael Duck KC emphasized the importance of clarifying early on that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann, prompting an emotional response from Wandelt.
Despite the McCanns’ lack of engagement, Wandelt persistently contacted Kate McCann, obtaining her mobile number and bombarding her with numerous calls and messages. In one instance last year, she reportedly called and messaged Kate over 60 times in a single day. Additionally, messages were sent to Madeleine’s sister, Amelie, with detailed recollections and pleas for recognition.
The court also heard that Wandelt reached out to Gerry McCann via email, suggesting a potential familial connection based on shared physical attributes and scars. Mr. Duck described Wandelt and Spragg as individuals perpetuating conspiracy theories surrounding Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007.
The ongoing trial sheds light on the distress caused to the McCann family by persistent claims and communications from the defendants. Madeleine McCann’s disappearance in 2007 during a family vacation in Portugal remains a haunting mystery awaiting resolution.