During a court hearing, a Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann was recorded confronting the family.
Julia Wandelt, 24, expressed surprise as she was found guilty by a jury of harassing the parents of the missing girl. However, Wandelt and her friend Karen Spragg, 61, were acquitted of stalking charges following a five-week trial at Leicester Crown Court.
The pair were captured on camera checking into a hotel before approaching the McCanns at their residence in Rothley, Leicestershire, in December.
Wandelt had recorded a confrontation on her phone, where she confronted Gerry McCann. In one recording, Kate McCann can be heard saying: “You are causing a lot of distress. Stop it.”
Wandelt was heard instructing Spragg not to shout at Mrs. McCann, which Prosecutor Michael Duck KC highlighted as evidence of Spragg encouraging Wandelt’s actions.
Another recording involving an officer from the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Grange informed Wandelt that she was not Madeleine. Det Con Draycott emphasized this point to Wandelt.
Mr. Duck informed the jury that both women caused significant distress to the family through messages, calls, and a visit to the McCanns’ home, demonstrating their determination to achieve their objectives. Spragg, a care worker, was emotional upon being cleared of stalking charges.
In a post-hearing statement, the McCanns expressed their lack of pleasure in the guilty verdict for harassment and their desire to end the harassment without going through a court process. They emphasized that the decision to prosecute was made by the Crown Prosecution Service based on police evidence.
Wandelt became fixated on believing she was the missing British girl who disappeared in Portugal in 2007. The court was informed of her repeated attempts to contact the McCanns and her online posts comparing herself to Madeleine.
Wandelt’s barrister described her as a distressed young woman driven by confusion about her identity rather than malice. Prosecutors argued that her actions constituted harassment and caused significant distress to the McCann family.
The court heard that Wandelt, who claimed she had been a victim of sexual abuse, began believing she was Madeleine while receiving treatment for depression and self-harm in June 2022. She embarked on a campaign to convince others of her identity, even contacting friends of the McCanns and their twins.
Prior to sentencing, Wandelt wept in court as the judge, Mrs. Justice Cutts, advised her to compose herself. She remained silent as the court proceedings continued. Throughout the trial, she displayed emotional outbursts, including directing questions at Kate McCann.
Wandelt was sentenced to six months in prison and issued a restraining order prohibiting contact with the McCanns. Spragg also received a restraining order. Wandelt faces deportation, pending a decision by the Home Secretary on her custody status.
