Overview of the Case and Key Claim
The ongoing stalking case at Leicester Crown Court centers on Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old Polish national, and Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff. They are charged with stalking Madeleine McCann’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, amid Ms Wandelt’s long-standing belief that she is the missing child. The jury has heard details about a DNA test obtained during a December 2024 arrest process and later presented to Ms Wandelt in Peterborough Prison in April. The court is weighing whether these results confirm or dispute her claim of being Madeleine.
What the DNA Evidence Allegedly Showed
Det Insp Mark Cramwell told jurors that DNA samples collected at the time of Ms Wandelt’s arrest “conclusively proved” she was not Madeleine McCann. The assertion is central to the prosecution’s narrative that the alleged stalking and related communications were driven by a belief in a personal connection to the McCanns’ daughter. While the defense has disputed aspects of the evidence and its interpretation, the Crown’s position is that the DNA outcome undermines Ms Wandelt’s case for recognition as Madeleine McCann.
Timeline of the DNA Decision
According to Det Insp Cramwell, the decision to pursue DNA testing originated from the operation known as Grange, the Metropolitan Police inquiry into Madeleine’s disappearance. He described the move as weighing heavily on his mind but outside the conventional framework. The samples were taken at the time of arrest in December 2024, and the test result was disclosed to Ms Wandelt in prison several months later.
Impact on the McCann Family and Public Perception
The case has kept Madeleine McCann’s disappearance in the public eye for years. The McCanns’ family liaison officer, Det Sgt Roger Bearn, has previously indicated that the family responded to media coverage and images of Ms Wandelt with confidence that the person in question was not their daughter. The court has also heard about the intense media interest surrounding the case, including a recording of a phone call with a Grange officer that Ms Wandelt later broadcast on a podcast.
How the Prosecution Framed the Alleged Stalking
Prosecutors allege that Ms Wandelt and Mrs Spragg’s actions caused serious alarm and distress to the McCanns through persistent messages, visits, and other communications asserting a connection to Madeleine. The charges include stalking and related offences. The trial has also heard about Ms Wandelt’s demands for a DNA test and visits to the McCanns’ home, which the couple reportedly found distressing and intrusive. The defense argues against criminal liability based on intent and context, while prosecutors emphasize the persistent, targeted nature of the conduct.
Recent Court Proceedings and Next Steps
Details presented during the trial have covered the chain of events from December 2024 through early 2025, including a later arrest when Ms Wandelt flew into the UK via Bristol Airport and Mrs Spragg was detained nearby. The Met Police documented a crime report after a confrontation at the McCanns’ residence involving the pair and an “older woman.” The jury continues to hear from witnesses, assess the legitimacy and interpretation of the DNA findings, and determine whether the defendants’ actions meet the threshold for stalking and associated offences.
What This Means for Madeleine McCann’s Case
While the DNA result reportedly indicating that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann does not resolve the broader mystery of Madeleine’s disappearance, it adds a critical dimension to the charges against the two women. The court’s findings will hinge on how the DNA evidence is weighed alongside testimonies about intent, impact, and the sequence of contacts with the McCanns. The trial remains ongoing as jurors deliberate on the merits of the stalking-related allegations and the surrounding circumstances.
Contextual Note for Readers
Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 while on holiday with her family in Portugal. Her disappearance remains one of the most scrutinized missing-person cases in modern history, with numerous media reports and investigations over the years. This trial in Leicester is part of the broader attention the case attracts whenever new assertions or evidence surface regarding Madeleine and those connected to her story.
