Julia Wandelt, a Polish national, has made international headlines due to a high-profile stalking case involving the family of missing child Madeleine McCann. The trial, which recently began at Leicester Crown Court, centres on Wandelt’s claims that she is Madeleine McCann, a claim widely rebuffed by both law enforcement and the McCann family. This case has garnered significant public interest and media coverage, particularly as new details have emerged from the court proceedings.
Who Is Julia Wandelt and Why Is She in the News?
Julia Wandelt is a 24-year-old woman from Lubin, Poland. She gained international attention after, in early 2023, she asserted on social media and in public interviews that she could be Madeleine McCann, the British girl who disappeared from Portugal in 2007 at the age of three. DNA tests later confirmed Wandelt’s Polish origin, disproving her claim.
This did not stop Wandelt from persistently contacting Kate and Gerry McCann through emails, calls, voicemails, and social media messages. Prosecutors allege that her activity escalated from June 2022 to February 2025, eventually including visits to the McCann family’s residence in Leicestershire and even an attempt to contact Madeleine’s sister.
Recent Developments: The Court Case and Charges
Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg, a 61-year-old from Cardiff, are jointly accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February 2025. The prosecution detailed in court how Wandelt would send incessant messages, plead for a DNA test, and call or visit the McCanns’ home. Mrs McCann recounted feeling on edge and distressed, experiencing mounting anxiety due to the ongoing harassment.
The trial revealed that Wandelt even left voicemails with a Polish accent, urging Mrs McCann to let her prove her identity as Madeleine with a DNA test. She also contacted the hospital where the McCanns work, and at one point, harassed their daughter Amelie via social media, which Mrs McCann described as “the final straw”.
During one court session, Mrs McCann gave evidence from behind a privacy screen, recalling Wandelt’s unrelenting messages and the emotional toll it took. Prosecutors also played one of the voicemails that Wandelt had delivered. The court was informed that the allegations had caused “serious alarm and distress” to the entire family.
Multiple Claims and Emotional Reactions in Court
It was also revealed that Wandelt had not limited her assertions to the Madeleine McCann case. At different times, she claimed to be two other missing girls, Inga Gehricke from Germany and Acacia Bishop from the US. When her claims were examined and dismissed, she would switch identities and continue contacting families and charities connected to missing children.
Court proceedings have been emotionally charged. At one point, Wandelt was described as sobbing and shouting, “Why are you doing this to me?” as she was led away from the dock. Prosecutors emphasised that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann and highlighted the persistent harm caused to the family by conspiracy theories and repeated harassment.
The Broader Context: The Madeleine McCann Case
The McCann case remains one of the most publicised missing child cases in history. Madeleine disappeared in 2007 in Portugal, and despite massive police investigations and decades of global attention, her whereabouts remain unknown. Periodically, fresh tips and unsubstantiated claims, such as Wandelt’s, bring unwelcome attention and emotional burden to her family.
The trial against Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg continues, focusing on whether their actions meet the legal definition of stalking by causing “serious alarm or distress.” Both defendants deny these charges.
