Julia Wandelt, a Polish woman who claims to be Madeleine McCann, broke down in hysterical sobs during court proceedings as the missing girl's mother described her distress. The 24-year-old from Lubin in south-west Poland shouted "why are you doing this to me?" after Kate McCann gave evidence about being confronted outside her home.
Wandelt stands trial alongside Karen Spragg (61) from Cardiff for allegedly stalking Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February this year. Prosecutors allege Wandelt peddled the myth that she was Madeleine, who disappeared in Portugal in 2007, whilst stalking the parents through emails, phone calls and home visits.
Parents describe devastating impact
Both Kate and Gerry McCann gave evidence at Leicester Crown Court about the impact of Wandelt's claims. Gerry McCann told the jury: "Well, we know she's not our daughter. It has many effects - we don't know what happened to Madeleine, there's no evidence to say she's dead."
He explained that whilst they hold onto hope Madeleine is alive, multiple false claims inevitably pull their heartstrings. "There's wider effect that is more damaging," he said, warning that conspiracy theories were detrimental to any existing investigation.
Psychological toll escalates over time
Kate McCann described how the persistent behaviour had begun to affect her psychologically over two and a half years. "I feel like it has escalated, the level of stress and anxiety it's caused me has increased over that time," she told the court from behind a screening curtain.
She admitted Wandelt's frequent messages had created doubt in her mind. "I think it was getting to me so much that a little bit of my brain was saying 'what if?'" she said, though she added: "Having seen a photo of her, she's Polish… it doesn't make sense."
Confrontation at family home
Kate McCann described the confrontation at their family home on December 7 last year in detail. She told the court she was getting something from her car boot in the dark when she heard someone say "Kate" behind her.
"She called me mum I think, she was asking for a DNA test, 'why won't you do a DNA test?' and pleading with me," Mrs McCann said. She described Spragg as "slightly more aggressive" during the visit, saying she asked: "don't you want to find your daughter?"
When asked if she wanted the women there, Mrs McCann replied: "I did not. I told them to leave. I told them I was distressed."
Aggressive behaviour and conspiracy claims
Gerry McCann said the two women showed no sign of leaving and started banging on the door and shouting. He told them the Metropolitan Police had eliminated Wandelt from inquiries, but Spragg spoke about a cover-up and accused him of being a member of the Masons.
"I was pretty astounded. I don't know much about the Masons, I did not know they allow Catholics in," he said. Wandelt was holding a plastic folder that she was trying to "force into his hand", but he refused to take it whilst trying to get inside the house.
DNA test requests create doubt
Mrs McCann revealed she had a "little niggle" about doing a DNA test because Wandelt had been "so incessant". She told the jury: "I almost wanted a DNA test to put it to bed."
The stress and anxiety had only eased after the defendants' arrest on February 19 this year. Kate McCann also revealed that fewer than ten people have contacted her claiming to be her missing daughter, and people still turn up at their home with information about Madeleine's disappearance "sporadically, every six months".
Both defendants deny the charges of stalking causing serious alarm and distress. The trial continues at Leicester Crown Court.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
