Overview
In a high-profile stalking case heard at Leicester Crown Court, Kate McCann described the distress she felt after being confronted on her driveway by two women accused of stalking her family. The witnesses, Karen Spragg and Julia Wandelt, deny the charges, which relate to incidents between June 2022 and February 2023 and involve the pursuit of responses connected to Madeleine McCann, the missing child who vanished in Portugal in 2007.
The allegations and defendants
Prosecutors allege that Julia Wandelt, a Polish national from Lubin in south-west Poland, propagated the false claim that she was Madeleine McCann. The same period allegedly saw Wandelt and Spragg engage in a persistent pattern of communications, including emails and phone calls, as well as repeated appearances at the McCanns’ home address in Leicestershire.
Wandelt and Spragg, both denying the stalking charges, stand accused of causing serious alarm and distress to Kate and Gerry McCann. The court has heard that the alleged behavior spanned several months and included attempts to contact the couple through multiple channels, heightening the emotional toll on the family.
The December visit and testimony
Testimony from Kate McCann was delivered from behind a curtain as she described a tense encounter with the defendants on the family driveway on 7 December last year. McCann recounted hearing a voice calling her name while she was preparing to open the car boot during a gale-locked weekend. She said a woman called her “mum” and pressed for a DNA test, prompting distress and a plea for the individuals to leave.
In the courtroom, Ms McCann distinguished between Wandelt’s manner and Spragg’s demeanor. She characterized Wandelt as somewhat less aggressive, while Spragg’s presence she described as more forceful, urging the family to acknowledge a supposed search for Madeleine. McCann affirmed that she did not want the visitors there and asked them to leave, emphasizing that the encounter left her shaken.
Impact on the McCanns
The witness said the incident, following ongoing communications from Wandelt, left her on edge and distressed. The court heard that McCann immediately contacted her husband Gerry after securing the house and closing the door. The emotional strain from the drive-by confrontation and the surrounding communications was framed as part of a broader pattern of harassment alleged by the Crown.
What happens next in the case
As the trial continues, both defendants maintain their innocence regarding the stalking charges. The court process will consider the credibility of the witnesses, the nature and frequency of communications, and whether the actions described meet the threshold for stalking causing serious alarm and distress. The case remains a focal point for ongoing discussions about Madeleine McCann’s disappearance and the public fascination surrounding her family.
Context and public interest
The case sits at the intersection of a high-profile missing-child case and modern concerns about online and physical stalking. It highlights how social media and persistent contact can blur the lines between public interest, fan engagement, and targeted harassment. The court’s evaluation of intent and impact will be crucial in determining the outcome for the defendants and the McCanns.
