Overview of the case
A woman who has claimed to be Madeleine McCann faced her accusers in a Leicester crown court as prosecutors described a persistent campaign of stalking against Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of the missing child. Julia Wandelt, 24, from Poland, is accused of harassing the McCanns between June 2022 and February 2024, including numerous calls, messages, and visits to their home.
The courtroom proceedings
At the opening of the trial, the Crown Court jury was told that Wandelt was a conspiracy theorist who could not be Madeleine. Prosecutor Michael Duck KC said Wandelt would claim memories of being in the McCanns’ household and participating in family events, though the court should not believe these assertions. The jury was reminded that Wandelt bears no familial link to the McCanns, and that scientific evidence would be introduced to challenge her resemblance to Madeleine.
Wandelt’s reaction in court
As the prosecutor spoke, Wandelt began crying loudly in the dock and attempted to leave via a back door to the cells. She was comforted by her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, 61, who is accused of joining Wandelt in the alleged harassment. Spragg, who is from Cardiff, denies the charges. The emotional moment underscored the high tensions surrounding the case.
Claimed links to other missing children
The prosecution noted Wandelt’s previous attempts to impersonate other missing children, including Inga Gehricke of Germany (born eight years after Madeleine) and Acacia Bishop in the United States. These admissions are part of a broader pattern the Crown describes as an attempt to manufacture legitimacy by crafting a narrative that she was connected to different families and tragedies.
Use of online tools and manipulation
Authorities said Wandelt used ChatGPT to produce fake images and sent them to Madeleine’s younger sister, Amelie McCann, who is now an adult. In messages described as manipulation, Wandelt identified herself as a viral claimant who believes she is Madeleine McCann, claiming hypnosis and “flashbacks” that supposedly tied her to the family. Prosecutors say this behavior would have been distressing for Amelie and for the McCanns themselves.
Messages to the McCanns
Wandelt allegedly left more than 60 voicemails and messages for Kate and Gerry McCann, including calls to Kate’s number. One message suggested a conditional outcome: “If I’m her then everything will be OK, and if I’m not, as you probably think, then I will leave you alone.” Other communications touched on appearance and memory, with Wandelt expressing frustration about not being identified as Madeleine and blaming “large corruption” for the lack of recognition.
The case’s legal context
The prosecution asserted that Wandelt’s claims about being Madeleine were not credible and that she had no lawful basis to press into the McCanns’ lives. The prosecution also highlighted that the absence of a familial link, combined with scientific evidence to be presented, would undermine any attempt to reinterpret events as a real connection to the family. The trial is ongoing, with jurors weighing the evidence to determine whether Wandelt and Spragg engaged in a sustained course of conduct intended to cause distress or fear.
What comes next
As the trial continues, further testimony and expert analysis are expected to be presented. The court will evaluate Wandelt’s intent, the scale of the alleged harassment, and the impact on the McCanns and their family. The case remains a focal point for discussions about online identity, false claims, and the lasting media attention surrounding Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.
