A Polish woman who falsely claimed to be Madeleine McCann stalked the missing girl's parents through emails, phone calls and by appearing at their address, Leicester Crown Court heard. Julia Wandelt (24) from Lubin in south-west Poland and Karen Spragg (61) of Caerau Court Road in Cardiff deny stalking Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February this year.
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC told the jury there is "unequivocal scientific evidence" that Wandelt has no familial link to the McCanns. When he stated clearly that "Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann", she began crying audibly and moved to the back of the dock before returning after a ten-minute break.
False memories and conspiracy theories
From June 2022, Wandelt began attempting to convince "anybody prepared to listen" that she was Madeleine. Duck told the court she claimed "she must have been abducted and taken to Poland where she lived with people who she was erroneously told were her parents."
The prosecutor said Wandelt pursued claims that she was Madeleine McCann and "pursued that myth" over an extended period. He emphasised that there remains a group of individuals who perpetuate conspiracy theories about the case, stating: "Unfortunately, these two defendants belong to that latter group."
Age discrepancy rules out claims
The court heard that Wandelt could never have legitimately believed she was Madeleine due to age differences. Duck explained: "At the time of Madeleine McCann's disappearance, Julia Wandelt was not of the same age."
Wandelt claimed to have memories of being part of the McCann family and growing up with Madeleine's younger siblings. She obtained numerous images of Madeleine and the McCann family, comparing them to pictures of herself and even sending images to Madeleine's younger sister to "persuade" her they "were somehow related".
Background to the case
Madeleine McCann disappeared on 3 May 2007 from an apartment in Praia da Luz on Portugal's coast during a family holiday. She was nine days short of her fourth birthday when she vanished, generating worldwide media attention that continues today.
Duck told the court that one tragic consequence for Kate and Gerry McCann has been their "constant inability to escape the glare of publicity that came with that tragedy". He emphasised: "Nothing gives you the right to pursue and stalk people just because you want them to bend to your will and do as you demand or request."
The disappearance remains unsolved and the trial continues.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
