🔴 SHOCK STALKING TRIAL: MCCANN HOAX EXPOSED!
Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann and stalked missing girl’s parents, court told
At Leicester Crown Court, a trial of profound legal significance is unfolding as the Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old Polish national, faced allegations of orchestrating a three-year stalking campaign against Kate and Gerry McCann, parents of missing Madeleine McCann.
Wandelt, accused alongside Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, denied charges of stalking, with the prosecution alleging a calculated pattern of harassment that included phone calls, messages, and physical appearances at the McCanns’ Leicestershire home between June 2022 and February 2025. The court heard that Wandelt, who claimed to be Madeleine—abducted in 2007 from Praia da Luz, Portugal—lacked any familial link, a claim the prosecution dismantled with scientific evidence.
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC described Wandelt as an emotional manipulator who fabricated memories of McCann family life, asserting she recalled events with Madeleine’s siblings.
The jury was told Wandelt’s assertions crumbled under scrutiny, with her age—nearly two years older than Madeleine would be—posing an insurmountable contradiction. Duck revealed Wandelt’s history of impersonating other missing children, including Germany’s Inga Gehricke and the US’s Acacia Bishop, underscoring a pattern of deceptive behaviour.
In a striking courtroom moment, Wandelt broke down, attempting to exit the dock as the prosecution declared she was not Madeleine, only to be steadied by co-defendant Spragg.
The prosecution detailed Wandelt’s tactics, including 60 calls to Kate McCann, voicemails, emails, and letters, alongside visits to the McCanns’ village. In one voicemail, Wandelt claimed, “If I’m her, everything will be OK,” while blaming “large corruption” for her unrecognised identity.
She also used ChatGPT to create fake childhood images sent to Madeleine’s now-adult sister, Amelie, introducing herself as the “girl who went viral” claiming to be Madeleine. These messages, described as deeply manipulative, formed a cornerstone of the prosecution’s case, which will present forensic evidence to refute Wandelt’s claims.
Spragg’s role, though less detailed, allegedly involved supporting Wandelt’s campaign, with both defendants united in their not guilty pleas.
The trial, expected to probe the boundaries of identity fraud and harassment, continues to draw intense scrutiny, with the jury tasked to weigh complex evidence in a case that tests the limits of legal accountability.
As proceedings advance, UK Courts Live remains committed to delivering incisive coverage of this high-profile matter, unpacking the legal intricacies that define this extraordinary courtroom drama.
THURSDAY - DAY 16 AFTERNOON
LIVE COVERAGE:
UPDATES
🔴 PROSECUTION FINISHES CROSS-EXAMINATION
Michael Duck KC concludes questioning Julia Wandelt after intense DNA and belief exchanges — court takes brief break ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT STOOD DOWN — NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
Julia Wandelt leaves witness box; will face no more cross-examination ⬇️
🔴 CO-ACCUSED KAREN SPRAGG WILL NOT TESTIFY
Jury informed Karen Spragg exercises right to silence — will not give evidence in her defence ⬇️
🔴 JURY DISMISSED UNTIL MONDAY
Mrs Justice Cutts sends jurors home — trial resumes at Leicester Crown Court next week ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO I AM’
Wandelt tells court: “I don’t care anymore. If people say I’m not, I’m okay with it. I am absolutely exhausted with it. I just want to know who I am” ⬇️
🔴 DUCK KC: ‘EVIDENCE EXPOSED WHAT YOU’RE DOING’
Prosecutor declares the trial has revealed the truth behind her claims ⬇️
🔴 ‘I DO BELIEVE I AM HER — I REMEMBER THEM’
Wandelt responds, voice breaking: “I do believe I am her. I remember them” — clinging to memories despite no scientific proof ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE’ — DUCK KC PRESSES
Prosecutor: “There is absolutely no scientific evidence to connect you with the McCann family” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I DO BELIEVE I AM HER — BUT I’M EXHAUSTED’
Wandelt finally answers the core question, voice breaking: “I do believe I am her. I remember them. But I am just exhausted. I’m willing to say I agree because I’m exhausted” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 AFTER YESTERDAY’S ‘IN BETWEEN’ ON IDENTITY
Julia Wandelt previously told court she was “in between” on whether she is Madeleine McCann — today faces final push on belief ⬇️
🔴 ‘LET’S AGREE I’M NOT MADELEINE — MEMORIES STILL REAL’
Wandelt proposes: “Let’s agree for a moment I am not… I can assume my memories were and are genuine but with the wrong people” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I REMEMBER GLASS DOORS — BEFORE SEEING FOOTAGE’
Wandelt claims therapy uncovered memory of McCann home interior — later saw same glass doors on YouTube: “This was after I had the memory” ⬇️
🔴 ‘TOO MANY SIMILARITIES — ONLY EXPLANATION’
Wandelt insists volume of matching details from memories to public McCann videos means the only explanation is that she is their daughter ⬇️
THURSDAY - DAY 16 MORNING
LIVE COVERAGE:
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT HAD PROOF SHE’S NOT MADELEINE
Wandelt presented Dr Miller’s California report publicly as evidence — but agrees if DNA samples tested included Madeleine’s, the results, including
“almost 70% match”
proves 100% Wandelt is not her ⬇️
🔴 ‘DNA FROM ROOM BELONGED TO THREE PEOPLE’
Wandelt refuses to accept result — claims sample from Portugal apartment wasn’t solely Madeleine’s, so test inconclusive ⬇️
🔴 ‘BLINDINGLY OBVIOUS PROFILES DID NOT MATCH’
Duck KC: “The one thing that’s blindingly obvious is that your profile and Madeleine McCann’s did not match”
Wandelt says
“yes”
— if one of the samples given to Miller was from Madeleine ⬇️
🔴 ‘ MILES AWAY FROM MATCHING’
Duck KC: “Assuming Madeleine’s DNA profile to be hers, we know yours is yours. They are miles away from matching up”
— Wandelt: “Assuming this does belong to Madeleine, yes” ⬇️
🔴 COURT BREAKS FOR LUNCH
Cross-examination of Julia Wandelt continues after break — jury hearing more on DNA evidence and McCann home visit ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 QUESTIONED OVER DRAMATIC CONFRONTATION AT MCCANN HOME
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC turns to 7 December 2024 visit with co-accused Karen Spragg — filmed and posted online ⬇️
🔴 SPRAGG MESSAGE: ‘WE’RE NOT LEAVING UNTIL THIS GETS LOOKED AT’
Prosecution questions whether a peaceful visit was planned. Co-accused Karen Spragg texted Wandelt before 7 Dec 2024 home visit: “We have to make a stand. We’re not leaving until this gets looked at” ⬇️
🔴 ADMITS SPRAGG GOT ‘VERBALLY AGGRESSIVE’
Wandelt concedes Spragg’s emotions “became too big” and she was aggressive — “I didn’t think that was the right thing to do” ⬇️
🔴 POSTED VIDEO OF KATE’S DISTRESS ‘FOR TRANSPARENCY’
Wandelt filmed and shared McCann home confrontation online — says it documented her quest to get answers, regrets posting but unsure if it distressed Kate ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 POLICE WARNING ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ — WANDELT
Told by officer returning to Leicester risked arrest & harassment charge — Wandelt: “I was treated disrespectfully by the police” ⬇️
🔴 ‘THREATENING ARREST WAS WRONG — HELP ME FIND WHO I AM’
Wandelt insists police should have aided her identity quest, not threaten arrest —
“I didn’t harass anyone” ⬇️
🔴 ‘DIDN’T UNDERSTAND IT WAS A FORMAL WARNING’
Wandelt tells court she never grasped police caution meant returning to McCann home could legally count as harassment, considering police message informal ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 CLAIMS SHE SAW MCCANNS AT VIGIL — DESPITE THEM BEING ABROAD
Wandelt denies being “unpredictable” — insists she witnessed Kate and Gerry arrive and leave Rothley vigil on 3 May 2024, though family was on holiday ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT ACCUSES MCCANNS: ‘YOU ARE SO CORRUPTED’
Voicemail to Kate on 20 April 2024: “You are so corrupted… you never wanted to find Madeleine” — based on “memories” of shouting for mummy and daddy ⬇️
🔴 ‘I REGRET IT — SAID UNDER STRESS, NOT WHAT I BELIEVE’
Wandelt admits words would distress Kate but blames emotion: “I said things I probably shouldn’t have… it’s not what I believe” ⬇️
🔴 ‘MOST MESSAGES WERE RESPECTFUL AND POLITE’
Wandelt insists majority of her voicemails to McCanns were courteous — denies intent to harm ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT DENIES KNOWING CONTACT WAS UNWANTED
Duck KC: after no replies to repeated messages to Kate, Gerry and Amelie, you realised approaches were unwanted? Wandelt: “No” ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT: ‘I COULDN’T BELIEVE PARENTS WOULDN’T FOLLOW LEAD’
Duck KC: after zero replies, you realised McCanns didn’t want contact? Wandelt: “No” — insists parents of missing child should pursue any clue ⬇️
🔴 ‘WHY AM I STANDING HERE? I DID NOTHING WRONG’
Wandelt breaks down in tears, turns from prosecutor: “Why am I standing here? I did not do anything wrong” ⬇️
🔴 FRIEND OFFERED £10K FOR MCCANN DNA TEST
Wandelt says Steven Dempster proposed paying for official DNA with Kate and Gerry — she wanted family court to order it ⬇️
🔴 75 MINUTES OF CALLS AND TEXTS TO KATE
13 April 2024: Wandelt bombarded Kate McCann with texts, calls and voicemails over 75 minutes ⬇️
🔴 ‘I BEG YOU TO STOP BLOCKING — YOU ARE MY REAL MOTHER’
One message to Kate: “I beg you to stop blocking my number… You are my real mother” ⬇️
🔴 DUCK KC: APPROACHES UNWANTED ON 13 APRIL?
Prosecutor asks if Wandelt accepted contact was unwanted that day — she replies: “No” ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT: KATE ‘NOT ALLOWED’ OR DIDN’T GET MESSAGES
“I mostly thought she was not allowed [to speak to me]… or she didn’t receive the voicemail messages” ⬇️
🔴 BUT ADMITS: ‘MAYBE SHE DIDN’T WANT TO’
Wandelt concedes: “or maybe she didn’t want to, yes” — acknowledging Kate might have chosen silence freely ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT ADMITS POSTING DOCTORED CHILDHOOD PHOTOS
Julia Wandelt agrees images on her phone — comparing her to Madeleine and Amelie — were altered in eyes, teeth, lips and facial shape ⬇️
🔴 ‘I DIDN’T EDIT THEM — SUPPORTERS DID’
Wandelt denies altering photos herself — claims supporters sent them to “help” and she didn’t realise they were faked ⬇️
🔴 POSTED FAKED COMPARISONS TO INSTAGRAM
Wandelt confirms she published the edited side-by-side images online — says she believed they were “honest” supporter work ⬇️
🔴 ‘HUMAN MISTAKE — I DIDN’T VERIFY’
Wandelt calls the posting a “human error” — admits she shared the doctored photos without checking, falsely boosting resemblance claims ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT CLAIMS CHILDHOOD MEMORY OF KATE’S NECKLACE
Julia Wandelt tells court she messaged Amelie recalling Kate McCann wearing an oval gold necklace “when I was small” — presenting it as her own memory ⬇️
🔴 DUCK KC: ‘EMOTIONAL FOR AMELIE’ — WANDELT AGREES
Prosecutor asks if sharing such “memories” with Madeleine’s sister would be distressing — Wandelt accepts it would be ⬇️
🔴 ‘I REFER TO MY MEMORY’ — WANDELT STANDS BY CLAIM
Wandelt insists: “I refer to my memory of [Kate] having a gold necklace” from her supposed childhood with the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 BUT HAD SEEN MCCANN HOME VIDEOS
Duck KC highlights Wandelt viewed family footage showing Madeleine with parents — she admits seeing the moving images as alternative source ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘PLEASE DON’T BLOCK ME’ — MESSAGE TO AMELIE
Court hears Julia Wandelt’s plea to Madeleine’s sister: “I can say so many things that I remember. Please don’t block me” ⬇️
🔴 DUCK KC: WHY EXPECT TO BE BLOCKED?
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC asks Wandelt why she anticipated Amelie McCann would block her account ⬇️
🔴 ‘NOBODY WANTED TO HELP ME’
Wandelt explains: “Because nobody wanted to help me” — cites treatment over the previous year and a half ⬇️
🔴 ‘I THOUGHT I WOULD BE TREATED THE SAME WAY’
Wandelt tells jury she expected rejection based on past experiences seeking assistance ⬇️
🔴 ‘NOBODY EXPRESSED THIS WAS UNWANTED’
Wandelt insists no one had explicitly told her the contact was unwelcome before she sent the message ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DENIES ALTERING PHOTOS TO RESEMBLE MADELEINE
Wandelt rejects prosecution claim she edited images — says she only sharpened poor-quality photos using Remedy app ⬇️
🔴 ‘ONLY PIMPLES — NOTHING ELSE’
Pressed on editing skills, Wandelt says: “I was a photographer… but I was not the type to alter an image” — admits removing pimples from models ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 PROSECUTOR SUGGESTS DEFENDANT KNEW CONTACT WITH MADELEINE’S SISTER WAS UNWANTED
Michael Duck KC questions Julia Wandelt on a message to Amelie McCann saying,
“I know you’re probably not going to answer me but I will try.”
suggesting she knew her contact was unwelcome ⬇️
🔴 NO RESPONSE FROM MCCANNS AFTER A YEAR
Wandelt confirms McCanns never replied with the prosecution suggesting that she knew contact was unwanted but sent messages anyway ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘RESEMBLANCE IN CHILDHOOD AND TEEN PHOTOS’
Wandelt recalls similarities in photos, school certificate praising her standout English as a child, scar on cheek, eye defect, mole positions ⬇️
🔴 ‘I HAD MORE EVIDENCE’ — BUT STRESS AFFECTS MEMORY
Duck KC: “Similar to mid-June 2023 — evidence not a lot?” Wandelt: “I had more. I’m stressed and I forget things” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 MORNING SESSION RESUMES AT LEICESTER CROWN
Trial of Julia Wandelt, 24, and Karen Spragg, 61, continues — both deny stalking the McCann family ⬇️
🔴 DUCK KC PROBES CONTACT WITH AMELIE MCCANN
Cross-examination focuses on Wandelt’s January 2024 messages to Madeleine’s younger sister — questions timing and evidence strength at that point ⬇️
UPDATES
WEDNESDAY 29 OCTOBER- DAY 15 AFTERNOON SESSION LIVE COVERAGE: JULIA WANDELT QUESTIONING CONTINUES
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT ADMITS MINIMAL EVIDENCE AT KEY MOMENTS
Julia Wandelt concedes she had “not a lot” or “almost nothing” when contacting McCanns, posting on Instagram and appearing on Dr Phil ⬇️
🔴 SOUGHT HELP, NOT HEADLINES — COURT HEARS
Wandelt insists actions were to force police response and secure DNA test — not chase fame — and felt letdown when she got global publicity without answers ⬇️
🔴 COURT ADJOURNS FOR DAY
Julia Wandelt leaves key question unanswered: does she still believe she is Madeleine McCann? She told jurors she is “in between” and wants to see the DNA paperwork herself ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘FOOLED BY FIA JOHANSSON’ OVER DNA TEST
Wandelt claims Fia Johansson promised her a DNA test with Kate and Gerry McCann to prove the link ⬇️
🔴 JOHANSSON ‘CONTROLLED EVERYTHING’
Wandelt tells court her then-representative Fia Johansson controlled the entire Dr Phil appearance ⬇️
🔴 ‘COULDN’T EVEN LEAVE HER HOUSE’
Wandelt says she was trapped — “I couldn’t even get out of her house if I wanted” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DR PHIL APPEARANCE GENERATED ‘ENORMOUS INTEREST’
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC says Julia Wandelt’s TV slot kept her public profile “very high” after the Instagram claim ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT: ‘NOT THERE FOR ATTENTION OR FUN’
Wandelt rejects suggestion she sought fame — “You make it look like I was there for attention or fun. It was not that” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 OFFICER QUOTED WANDELT AS ‘VERY GRATEFUL’
Jury hears police note claiming Wandelt said she was “very grateful” and relieved she was not Madeleine McCann ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT DENIES SAYING SHE WAS RELIEVED
“I did not say those words to the officer,” Wandelt insists in court ⬇️
🔴 ‘I WAS NOT TOLD I’M NOT MADELEINE’
Wandelt tells jurors the officer never explicitly said she was not Madeleine McCann ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 OPERATION GRANGE OFFICER CALLED WANDELT IN 2022
Met Police investigator from Madeleine probe rang Julia Wandelt on 29 June 2022 to confirm she was not the missing child ⬇️
🔴 POLICE REVIEWED PHOTOS AND RULED HER OUT
Officer told Wandelt they had examined her emailed photos from the day before and used expertise to conclude she was not Madeleine ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT CLAIMS NO MEMORY OF ASSURANCES
Wandelt tells court she does not recall the call initially — but later says she remembers it ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 POST AIMED AT PROVOKING POLICE RESPONSE
Wandelt repeats she made the Instagram claim to spark a police investigation, unaware of the potential backlash ⬇️
🔴 EXPECTATIONS OF BRITISH POLICE QUESTIONED
Duck KC probes what Wandelt thought UK police would do with her near-total lack of evidence at the time ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT: ‘IN REALITY, I’M THE VICTIM’
In cross-examination, Wandelt declares herself the true victim amid the harassment allegations ⬇️
🔴 DR PHIL APPEARANCE BOOSTED INTEREST
Wandelt concedes she had “not a lot” of evidence for her Dr Phil interview — but agrees it drew far more attention to her claims ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘NOT A LOT’ OF EVIDENCE WHEN CONTACTING GERRY
In June 2022, Wandelt admits she had “not a lot” of evidence supporting her claims when she tried to reach Gerry McCann ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT ON INSTAGRAM CLAIM: ‘ALMOST NOTHING’
Prosecution asks what evidence backed her public Instagram post declaring herself Madeleine — “I had almost nothing,” Wandelt replies ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 PROSECUTOR CHALLENGES WANDELT’S TIMELINE ON CONTACTS
Michael Duck KC tells the jury Julia Wandelt’s account may suggest she exhausted all options before reaching the McCanns — but questions the sequence ⬇️
🔴 CALL TO GERRY MCCANN’S HOSPITAL UNDER SCRUTINY
Court hears Wandelt called the hospital where Gerry McCann worked — she admits it was her but disputes the date of 24 June 2022 ⬇️
🔴 LITTLE ACTIVITY BEFORE JUNE 2022, SAYS PROSECUTOR
Duck KC points out minimal outreach to organisations by Wandelt prior to her June 2022 contact attempt with the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT BLAMES POLICE FOR MISSING EVIDENCE
Wandelt claims proof of her earlier efforts exists but wasn’t found — “It’s not the lawyers’ fault, it’s the police,” she tells the court ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 PROSECUTOR PROBES CONTRADICTIONS IN WANDELT’S ACCOUNT
Michael Duck KC challenges Julia Wandelt’s claim she always considered herself as trying to help the McCann’s possibly find their daughter, by confronting her with remarks apparently hostile to Kate & Gerry McCann ⬇️
🔴 POLICE COMPLAINT RAISED IN COURT
The jury hears that Wandelt once complained to Leicestershire Police, writing that the McCanns
“lack of empathy reveals to me they already know the truth”.
She also alleged they were “involved” in Madeleine’s disappearance ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT SAYS SHE REGRETS THE WORDING
Asked about the remark, Wandelt tells jurors:
“I understand I wrote this and I regret this… I believe their involvement was not direct” ⬇️
🔴 ‘CUDDLE CAT CHARADE’ CLAIM
Wandelt tells the court she believes the soft toy often seen with Kate McCann “never belonged to Madeleine” — saying a mother “would not wash the last thing she had” of a missing child ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 “ISN’T THAT THE END OF THIS CHARADE?”
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC reminds the jury that UK DNA tests “categorically” proved Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann. He tells Julia Wandelt her DNA would match Madeleine’s if they were the same person. He adds:
“Your profile bears no relation to Madeleine’s” ⬇️
🔴 WANDLET’S RESPONSE
Wandelt disputes that the interpretation of the DNA test are as clear as is claimed ⬇️
🔴 “MCCANNS COULD BE RELATED”
Wandelt tells the court:
“If parents are related, there can be more mismatches.”
When asked if she is suggesting the McCann couple are related to each other, she confirms:
“Yes.” ⬇️
🔴 WANDLET REFUSES TO CONCEDE
The prosecution has now laid bare the scientific proof — DNA that “categorically” excludes any link to Madeleine — while Wandelt insists that her version
“Isn’t a fabrication” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 JURY HEARS EMAIL SENT TO OPERATION GRANGE
Michael Duck KC reads an email from co-defendant Karen Spragg to Operation Grange, questioning why a DNA test wasn’t done. Spragg implied Julia is Madeleine and that authorities are withholding confirmation ⬇️
🔴 DUCK KC PUSHES WANDLET
Duck KC asks Wandelt if she shares Spragg’s view
“You must know she is Madeleine and don’t want her found.”
Wandelt replies:
“Yes.” ⬇️
🔴 CLARIFYING BELIEFS
Another Spragg message read: “Everyone knows the McCanns are guilty.”
Wandelt tells the court:
“I believe they had no other choice. They are not guilty in my point of view. In Karen’s point of view, they’re guilty.” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 MESSAGE READ TO JURY
Extract from Wandelt’s message
“I remember how you hugged me. The pink teddy bear. I remember you came into the room before the abduction happened and you were rubbing my head saying you love me and you will find me.”⬇️
🔴 PROSECUTOR PUSHES FOR CLARITY
Michael Duck KC asks if these are genuine memories. Wandelt replies:
“Yes.” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 PROSECUTOR HIGHLIGHTS CONFIDENT WANDELT CLAIMS
Michael Duck KC tells the court that Julia Wandelt didn’t only say she might be Madeleine McCann. On multiple occasions, she told people she was Madeleine ⬇️
🔴 EXAMPLES READ TO JURY
Duck KC reads messages and statements showing Wandelt definitively claimed to be Madeleine, not just uncertain or questioning her identity ⬇️
🔴 MESSAGES TO KATE MCCANN
Court hears Wandelt sent multiple messages to Kate McCann, including:
•“I beg you, you are my real mother.”
“please give me one chance.”
“You are mummy, you know it’s me, you know I’m not crazy and you know I never lied.” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ANCESTRY TEST CONFIRMS POLISH ORIGIN
Discuss Wandelt’s appearance on Dr. Phil, Michael Duck KC reminds the court she took an ancestry test with Fia Johansson, which showed she is from Poland. Duck KC also confirmed her birth certificate and parents are Polish ⬇️
🔴 PROSECUTOR QUESTIONS WANDELT ON JOHANSSON
Michael Duck KC asks if the results of the DNA & ancestry test caused a breakdown in Wandelt’s relationship with Fia Johansson. Wandelt says no, Wandelt felt misled by Johansson, contributing to the falling out ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 COURT RESUMES — WANDELT CROSS-EXAMINATION
Proceedings at Leicester Crown Court have resumed in the trial of Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg, accused of stalking Madeleine McCann’s family. Michael Duck KC is now questioning Wandelt following the lunch break ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT HAS NO FURTHER CLARITY
Following her comments about being ‘50-50’ regarding believing she is Madeleine McCann, the prosecutor asks if she has gained more clarity over lunch. Wandelt told the court:
“I’ve spent lunchtime crying.”
⬇️
WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER- DAY 15 MORNING SESSION LIVE COVERAGE: JULIA WANDELT QUESTIONING CONTINUES
UPDATES
🔴 “I’M IN BETWEEN” — WANDELT BREAKS DOWN
Pressed three times by on whether she still believes she’s Madeleine McCann, Julia Wandelt tearfully replied: “It’s not yes & it’s not no — I’m in between.” She says she still wants to see the DNA paperwork proving she’s not Madeleine ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT STILL INSISTS SHE MIGHT BE MADELEINE:
So just for clarity: Despite damning DNA evidence proving otherwise, Wendelt flips her story once more, now claiming again, as court breaks for lunch, that she could still be Madeleine McCann! ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 “YES” — WANDELT AGREES SHE CONSIDERED GERRY MCCANN IMPLICATED
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC asked if she entertained the possibility Gerry McCann had something to do with Madeleine’s disappearance. Julia Wandelt replied: “Yes.” ⬇️
🔴 “FOOLED, DUPED & CONNED”
Julia Wandelt tearfully claimed she is vulnerable & fears for her safety in prison & was “fooled, duped & conned” by US self-styled psychic Fia Johansson & was treated “disrespectfully” when police told her DNA test results on April Fool’s Day ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT DENIES UNWANTED CONTACT
Referencing the many unanswered messages and calls to members of the McCann family Wandelt insists the contact wasn’t unwanted, saying the McCanns were trying to find their child ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT MAKES UNFOUNDED CLAIMS ABOUT GERRY MCCANN
Julia Wandelt tells the court she believes Gerry McCann may have threatened his wife Kate, causing messages to go unanswered. She cites “memories” from therapy as the basis for her belief, becoming emotional when pressed ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT: “MCCANNS NEVER MADE IT CLEAR THEY DIDN’T WANT CONTACT”
Under cross-examination, Julia Wandelt insisted the McCanns “never made it clear” they didn’t want her to contact them — claiming instead that Kate McCann was “threatened or couldn’t talk” to her ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 PROSECUTION CROSS-EXAMINATION BEGINS
Michael Duck KC starts questioning Julia Wandelt at Leicester Crown Court, focusing on her conduct and attempts to contact the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT STILL PURSUED CLAIM TO BE MADELEINE
Prosecution asks Julia Wandelt if she pursued her claim to be Madeleine McCann from June 2022 until her arrest this year.
She confirms: “Yes.”⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT CONSIDERED RETURN VISIT TO MCCAN HOME
Court hears Julia Wandelt wanted to confront Kate & Gerry McCann again after first travelling to their Leicestershire home – but says she ultimately didn’t go. Defence says she was talked out of it before returning to Poland ⬇️
🔴 PLANS IN POLAND FOR FURTHER MCCANN CONFRONTATION
Court hears that while back in Poland, Julia Wandelt was involved in group chats with co-defendant Karen Spragg & others, discussing potential trips to confront Kate & Gerry McCann ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT ON APPROACHING MCCANNS
Court hears Julia Wandelt says she did not think confronting Kate & Gerry McCann would cause distress.
“I think that if they want to find their child, every possible way should be looked at,” she tells the jury ⬇️
🔴 NO RUMMAGE THROUGH MCCANN’S BINS, NO DNA THEFT
Court hears Julia Wandelt says messages about going through the McCanns’ bins to get DNA were “not serious.”
“Me and Karen were mostly joking… if we wanted to do this, we would have, and we didn’t,” she tells the jury ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT CONSIDERED ARREST AS LAST RESORT
Court hears Julia Wandelt says she thought being arrested might be the only way to get a DNA test.
“I didn’t want to commit any crime… I changed my mind before coming to the UK, but I was arrested anyway,” she tells the jury ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT DENIES READING FAMILY DISTRESS
Speaking of turning up uninvited at the McCann family home, the court hears Julia Wandelt says she did not interpret Kate McCann’s words:
“You’re causing us a lot of distress, stop it,”
as meaning she wanted her to stop ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT DENIES UNDERSTANDING “STOP IT”
Julia Wandelt tells the court did not interpret “You’re causing us a lot of distress, stop it,” as a request to stop contacting the family, explaining:
“I didn't see how she could be distressed, she wants to find Madeleine." ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT ON APPROACHING MCCANNS
Court hears Julia Wandelt says she did not think confronting Kate & Gerry McCann would cause distress.
“I think that if they want to find their child, every possible way should be looked at,” she tells the jury ⬇️
🔴 NO RUMMAGE THROUGH MCCANN’S BINS, NO DNA THEFT
Court hears Julia Wandelt says messages about going through the McCanns’ bins to get DNA were “not serious.”
“Me and Karen were mostly joking… if we wanted to do this, we would have, and we didn’t,” she tells the jury ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT CONSIDERED ARREST AS LAST RESORT
Court hears Julia Wandelt says she thought being arrested might be the only way to get a DNA test.
“I didn’t want to commit any crime… I changed my mind before coming to the UK, but I was arrested anyway,” she tells the jury ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ONLINE COLLABORATION TO PRESSURE MCCAN FAMILY
Court hears Wandelt and co-defendant Spragg worked together in group chats, jointly editing messages and trying to get Kate McCann to engage, including one asking:
“I can’t add Kate, can you do it?” ⬇️
🔴 SPRAGG’S SUPPORT FOR WANDELT
Court hears co-defendant Spragg followed Wandelt on social media and found her DNA ‘report’ from a Californian expert persuasive, genuinely believing Wandelt’s claims and seeking to persuade others ⬇️
🔴 EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT
Spragg wrote in messages heard by the court:
“I have become close to Julia.”
Evidence shows Spragg defending Wandelt’s actions and intentions ⬇️
🔴 ADVOCATE ROLE
Spragg wrote to Kate McCann asserting: “Julia is not some crazy person”.
She emphasised her co-defendant’s sincerity:
“Julia has seen a psychologist and has spent hours talking to her about her memories." ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WHY SHE USED THE NAME
Wandelt tells the court the confident phrasing was a tactic — she believed a bold declaration would “make noise for the police” & draw attention to her claim.
She admits it was deliberate, not a translation error ⬇️
🔴 STRATEGY FAILED TO GET POLICE RESPONSE
Wandelt tells the court her “I Am Madeleine McCann” campaign didn’t prompt police to investigate her claim as she had hoped ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT’S PROVOCATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY
Wandelt explains to the court her strategy of using social media to promote her cause, with the aim of pressuring police to devote further resources into exploring her claims to Madeleine McCann ⬇️
🔴 ‘I AM MADELEINE MCCANN’ — NOT A MISTAKE, COURT HEARS
Messages show co-defendant Karen Spragg told Kate McCann that Wandelt hadn’t really meant to name her Instagram “I Am Madeleine McCann.”
Wandelt insists she did mean it ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘YOU’RE SO BRAVE’ – CO-DEFENDANT’S FIRST MESSAGE, COURT HEARS
Court hears Karen Spragg’s first contact with Julia Wandelt came via message in Sept 2024, offering support for conspiracy theory “ I know you are… that’s why they won’t do a DNA test for you.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY’
Message from Spragg also told Wandelt “you’re so brave” & “someone needs to take you seriously”. ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 STALKING ORDER ISSUED
A stalking protection order was imposed in relation to the McCann family. Wandelt ends questioning telling the jury:
“I don’t know who I am.” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DEFENDANT STILL INSISTS POLICE SHOULD INVESTIGATE
Wandelt told the jury she wanted police to “finally investigate [her] claims properly”, adding:
“Even if I go up in the courtroom guilty, I will still not know who I am.” ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT RETURNED TO UK FOR ‘DNA TEST & FRIENDS’
Court hears Julia Wandelt flew back to Britain this spring, saying she wanted a UK DNA test, feared visa issues & hoped to see friends. Flights & tests were funded by supporters ⬇️
🔴 ARRESTED ON ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN
Wandelt was arrested as soon as she landed, making no comment in interview. In April she finally took a DNA test — which proved she was not related to the McCanns ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘DNA EXPERT’ LEFT IN ‘UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION’
The court heard how US-based Dr Monte Miller, whom Wandelt found online, later faced unwanted attention after his correspondence with her was posted on the internet. No money changed hands, the jury heard ⬇️
🔴 ONLY ONE ‘EXPERT’ RESPONDED
Mr Price KC asked how many “experts” Wandelt had contacted.
She replied: “I wanted to see anyone who would respond.”
The court heard Dr Miller was the only person to reply. ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT DEFENDS ‘DNA EXPERT’ SHE FOUND ONLINE
Julia Wandelt tells the court she believed — and still believes — that Dr Monte Miller is
“an experienced expert”,
saying this belief was
“based on what I read about him.” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘WE WENT TO THE POLICE STATION,’ COURT HEARS
After the letter was delivered to the McCanns’ address, Wandelt & Spragg went to Beaumont Leys Police Station, jurors heard. Wandelt said she wanted to pass a report on DNA to an officer ⬇️
🔴 CONTACT WITH POLICE WATCHDOG
The court was told Wandelt spoke with a Sergeant Harper. She objected to being refused a laboratory comparison of her DNA to that of Madeleine McCann and filed a complaint with the IOPC ⬇️
🔴 “I WAS LEFT FEELING TARGETED”
Mr Price KC, defending, read passages from the IOPC complaint referring to “improper exercise of police power”. Wandelt told jurors: “I was left feeling targeted” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DAY 15 - COURT BACK IN SESSION ⚖️
Will the prosecution cross-examine Wandelt today, asking directly if—given the conclusive DNA evidence heard—she still believes she’s Madeleine McCann?
Live updates from Julia Wandelt on the stand incoming! ⬇️
🔴 TRIAL OF WOMEN ACCUSED OF STALKING McCANN FAMILY CONTINUES
Good morning from Leicester Crown Court. The trial of Julia Wandelt, 24, & Karen Spragg — accused of stalking Kate & Gerry McCann — resumes today. Wandelt remains in the witness box ⬇️
TUESDAY 28 OCTOBER- DAY 14 LIVE COVERAGE: JULIA WANDELT CONTINUES EVIDENCE
UPDATES
🔴 LETTER SIGNED ‘LOTS OF LOVE, MADELEINE’
Court hears Wandelt later sent a letter to Kate McCann beginning “dear mum” and ending “lots of love, Madeleine.” She told the jury: “The reality is I believed she is my mother.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘JULIA, I THINK YOU NEED HELP’
Wandelt said Gerry McCann told her she “needed help” after the confrontation. She described becoming “upset and panicking” after both parents went inside and refused her documents ⬇️
🔴 COURT ADJOURNED – LIVE UPDATES END
The jury has been sent home for the day & proceedings at Leicester Crown Court have concluded. Our live coverage of the Julia Wandelt trial will resume tomorrow, stay tuned to @UKCourtsLive by subscribing and switching on updates ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 TRIAL CONTINUES AFTER YESTERDAY’S ADMISSION
Following yesterday’s startling admission that she now fully accepts she is not — nor ever was — Madeleine McCann, the trial continues, with the defence going through previously heard evidence on Wandelt’s contact with the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 ENCOUNTER AT THE MCCANN HOME
Wandelt said she and co-defendant Karen Spragg went to the McCanns’ house in December 2024 with documents she believed proved a connection. She claims Kate McCann “started crying straight away.” ⬇️
🔴 EXCHANGE WITH KATE MCCANN
Wandelt said she asked to speak “for two minutes.” Kate replied “no,” saying she would call police. Spragg allegedly said “she is your daughter.” Kate responded: “She’s not my daughter.” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DNA ‘MATCH’ CONFUSION ENCOURAGED WANDLT
Court hears Wandelt says the DNA expert told her “we match very well.” The DNA results, however, described then matching
“fairly well” and this was a commercial preview, not a formal test.
🔴 NEW CLAIM LAUNCHED BASED ON TEST PREVIEW
Wandelt told the court of her misinterpretation: "From my understanding, he said the DNA matches very well". She says this encouraged her to contact the McCanns again,
She then told then that DNA test results indicated she was likely related ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT TURNS TO AI
After receiving Dr Miller’s “DNA report,” Wandelt told the court she turned to ChatGPT for answers, saying she “just wanted to do everything I could.” She smiled briefly toward her supporters in court ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DNA SALES PITCH
Court hears Julia Wandelt describe how she was sent a preview of a commercial DNA test service.
She was told the samples “match fairly well, more than expected at random” and could learn if a family relationship had been established if she paid the full fee.
Court hears Wandelt thought “more than random match” meant that she was likely related to the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 DIDN’T SEE DNA RESULTS - BUT WAS ‘ENCOURAGED’
Wandelt never paid to see the results of the commercial DNA test - but was encouraged in her belief that she could be Madeleine by a letter from Dr Miller saying she could pay to discover if there was a family relation ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DNA LINK CLAIM
Court hears Julia Wandelt says she was given DNA from items sent from the Portuguese investigation, though details of what DNA was provided remain unclear ⬇️
🔴 ALLEGED EXPERT OFFERS TO HELP
Wandelt told the court she then heard of a DNA expert, Dr Monte Miller, offering to “help” assess the samples ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 FEARED POLICE IGNORED POSSIBLE LEADS
Wandelt told Kate McCann police refused to take statements in 2022 & 2024.
She added: “The media said I was crazy. If they ignored me, we can assume they ignored other people as well.” ⬇️
🔴 VIGIL ATTENDANCE IN ROTHLEY
Wandelt attended annual vigil in Rothley, Leics, on 3 May 2024. She brought a letter for Kate McCann, was told she could not pass it directly to family, left it on the doorstep ⬇️
🔴 APPROACH DESCRIBED AS POLITE & RESPECTFUL
Wandelt spoke to parish priest Rev Robert Gladstone and McCanns’ aunt Janet Kennedy.
She said her actions were “polite and respectful” and left the church after being told the family could not be approached directly ⬇️
🔴 WANDERT’S VIEW: ID QUEST MORE IMPORTANT
She told court that discovering if she was Madeleine was “bigger” than any potential upset to the McCann family.
She maintained she acted in good faith, despite voicemails, calls, and messages being persistent ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 CLAIMED SHE COULD HELP THE MCCANNS
Wandelt told court her messages were intended to assist, sharing memories from just before Madeleine’s disappearance.
She said: “Please don’t think Madeleine is dead. It will cost you nothing to talk to me.” ⬇️
🔴 FLASHBACKS PROMPTED FURTHER CONTACT
Evidence shows a flurry of voicemails on 20 April 2024. She described she had memories coming to her “in pieces.” Wandelt: “I explained my evidence.” ⬇️
🔴 BEHAVIOUR NOT CONSIDERED HARASSMENT BY HER
Speaking of Kate McCann, she told the court: “I’m not in her mind… I don’t believe she ignored me because she didn’t want to talk.”⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘I JUST NEED ONE CALL’ – WANDELT ON CONTACTING MCANNS
Wandelt told jurors she did not intend to upset Kate McCann, saying: “Me possibly being Madeleine was bigger” than the potential upset she could cause ⬇️
🔴 ‘THE 13TH WAS NOT SPECIAL’
Court hears of a record high volume of unwanted calls & texts from Wandelt to Kate McCann on 13 April 2024. Wandelt says: “The 13th was not the first time I phoned them, I did not know what was so special about that day.” ⬇️
🔴 WEIGHING FALSE HOPE VS FINDING THE TRUTH
Wandelt explained she weighed the potential of giving the family false hope against finding out the truth about herself. Her conclusion: “Me possibly being Madeleine was bigger.” ⬇️
UPDATES
Standing trial on stalking allegations, Wandelt’s barrister asks her questions regarding a self-described publicist who she hoped could help her find her identity and understand her life story.
🔴 “MAKE THE STORY BIG” – JURY HEARS OF ‘HELPER’ JOURNALIST
Wandelt said self-described journalist Surjit Singh Clair told her they’d have to “make this story big”. She denied he paid her & said she only wanted a DNA test. ⬇️
🔴 ‘HE TOLD ME WHAT TO DO’ – WANDELT ON PUBLICIST CONTACT
Julia Wandelt said she was directed by“journalist & publicist” Surjit Singh, adding: “I had my doubts” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I JUST DON’T KNOW HOW PEOPLE CAN LIE SO MUCH’
Wandelt told jurors she’d been guided by “journalist & publicist” Surjit Singh Clair, who promised to help her get a DNA test with the McCanns — then said it would be “impossible” ⬇️
UPDATES
Wandelt tells the court how, under the influence of others, her attempts to understand her family background led to her appearing on American television - but not getting the McCann comparison DNA test she wanted.
🔴 ‘IT SHOULD’VE BEEN A RED FLAG’
Wandelt said Johansson flew from the US to Poland, taking control of her “I am Madeleine McCann” Instagram before her arrival.
“ it should have been a red flag, but it wasn’t at the time.” ⬇️
🔴 DNA TEST NEVER HAPPENED — DR PHIL APPEARANCE DID
Wandelt told jurors that after arriving in Los Angeles, Johansson’s attitude changed.
No DNA test took place — instead she was filmed for US talk show Dr Phil.
She said she was not paid for the appearance ⬇️
🔴 ‘I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I SIGNED’
Before flying home, Wandelt says she signed papers & gave fingerprints to Johansson but “didn’t know” what she was signing.
She then left the US and returned to Europe ⬇️
UPDATES
Wandelt speaks about Fia Johnson, US TV appearance on Dr. Phil, and hopes for a test comparing he DNA with the McCanns.
🔴 FLEW TO US FOR DNA TEST — ENDED UP ON DR PHIL
Court hears Julia Wandelt travelled to Los Angeles in Feb 2023 after being contacted by US “spiritual medium” Fia Johansson.
She believed Johansson was arranging a DNA test with the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 SAYS SHE THOUGHT McCANNS AGREED TO TEST
“She said she was in touch with Kate & Gerry McCann and they agreed for a DNA test with me,” Wandelt told jurors.
When asked if she believed that, she replied: “Yes.” ⬇️
UPDATES
Wandelt discusses some of the ‘circumstancial evidence’ which persuaded her she could be Madeleine McCann:
🔴 SEARCH FOR CLUES INCLUDED MADELEINE’S TOY
Wandelt became emotional when asked about messages she sent asking about Madeleine’s pink Cuddle Cat toy.
She said she had a similar Mothercare teddy & was “holding on to any circumstantial evidence” she could to prove who she was ⬇️
UPDATES
McCann used social media to try to get to the McCanns:
🔴 CALLS WITH McCANN FAMILY FRIEND
Court hears Julia Wandelt made repeated calls to David Payne — a close friend of Kate & Gerry McCann — hoping he could “help” her.
Mr Payne did not want to get involved and told her: “I’m sorry, we’ve had enough over the years.” ⬇️
🔴 SAYS SHE NEVER PUBLISHED PRIVATE PHOTOS
Wandelt told jurors she was sent personal holiday photos of the McCann family by a Facebook contact linked to a member of the 2007 holiday group.
“I never published them & I never will,” she said ⬇️
UPDATES
Wandelt discusses payments and her attitude towards fundraising:
🔴 WANDELT RAISED £400 FOR LEGAL HELP
The court heard she later accepted receiving around £400, which she said went towards a lawyer in Poland as she tried to prove her identity & finding herself unexpectedly facing homelessness ⬇️
🔴 'I'M ASHAMED OF THIS...'
"I felt bad about asking people for help," she told jurors. "I should be able to take care of myself. I'm ashamed of this because I know what it looks like"⬇️
🔴 WANDELT ‘PAID TO TAKE LIE DETECTOR TEST’
Julia Wandelt told jurors she received money “from people who wanted to help me” to take a polygraph test, insisting the payment wasn’t for profit — but part of her ongoing effort to “find out who I am.”⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘NOT A LIAR OR ATTENTION SEEKER’
Wandelt told jurors she only wanted a DNA test to help her ‘heal from trauma’ & find out her identity: “I knew this was the only way to find out what exactly happened to me” ⬇️
🔴 ‘ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED’ – WHY SHE WENT PUBLIC
In messages to Mr Payne, Wandelt said: “All doors are closed… police don’t want to help me.”
She told the court this was why she turned to social media with her claims that she could be Madeleine McCann ⬇️
🔴 ‘I DON’T CARE ABOUT MONEY OR PUBLICITY’
As she reached out to friends of the McCann family, Julia Wandelt denied being driven by fame or profit — telling them: “Please help me. I’ve tried everything to contact Kate, Gerry, Amelie… I don’t care about any money or publicity”⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 MCCANN STALKING TRIAL DAY 14 - JULIA WANDELT GIVING EVIDENCE LIVE ⬇️
Follow our live updates as the woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann faces tough questioning at Leicester Crown Court.
🔴 DAY - 14 - WANDELT ADMITS SHE’S NOT MADELEINE ⁉️
Leicester Crown Court is back in session & following yesterdays startling admission by Julia Wandelt that she now fully accepts, she is not nor ever was Madeleine McCann - she continues to give evidence live ⬇️
MON 27 OCTOBER- DAY 13 LIVE COVERAGE: JULIA WANDELT GIVES EVIDENCE
UPDATES
🔴 NOW WILLING TO ACCEPT
Julia Wandelt tells Leicester Crown Court: “I’m not going to deny what I remember, they are genuine memories. I’m willing to accept what I was told now.” ⬇️
🔴 COURT ADJOURNED
The trial of Julia Wandelt and co-defendant Karen Spragg has now concluded for the day.
The court is expected to resume tomorrow with further evidence and cross-examination ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 POLICE ‘NOT INTERESTED’ IN FINDING MADELEINE, SAYS WANDELT
Julia Wandelt told jurors she believes police are “not interested” in finding Madeleine McCann.
She said she contacted Gerry McCann directly in June 2023 because she thought the family had been “misled” ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT JUSTIFIES DIRECT CONTACT WITH MADELEINE’S FATHER
Wandelt said: “If the police treated their daughter’s case the way they treated me, I’m not surprised they didn’t find their daughter… my case is just an example of how police still abuse cases.” ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT SPEAKS OF PERSONAL IMPACT
She said she received hate online and that “there was a bounty on my head”.
“I don’t know if it was a joke, but someone did this,” she told the court. “People were wishing I would die.” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 RECALLING THE PAST
Julia Wandelt told the court she went to hypnosis sessions which brought back “memories” of her childhood ⬇️
🔴 HYPNOSIS “REVEALED MEMORIES”
She said the “memories” resurfaced during relaxation hypnosis with a therapist, giving what she considered fragments of her early life she hadn’t remembered before ⬇️
🔴 ‘IF I AM NOT MADELEINE, THEN WHO AM I?’
The Polish woman told the court: “I cannot imagine how they feel. If I am not Madeleine, then who am I?” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘THEY LOOK FOR THEIR CHILD, I LOOK FOR MY PARENTS’
Julia Wandelt told the court she first contacted Gerry McCann on 9 June 2023, saying her motive was:
"I think they deserve to know the truth"
She said she reached out after police had ‘let her down’ ⬇️
🔴 REASON FOR GOING PUBLIC
Wandelt explained: “In June 2022, I thought that police would help and after all this time… I realised they would not. So at that time I thought that journalists are here to tell the truth.” ⬇️
🔴 DEFENDING THE MCCANNS
She told the jury: “I never meant them any harm. I always defended them, I still even now defend them.” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 12 CLAIMANTS TO MADDIE - ALL REFUSED DNA TEST
Det Ch Insp Mark Cranwell said 12 people have claimed to be Madeleine over the years, but they were each conclusively ruled out by unambiguous evidence & their DNA wasn’t tested to avoid setting a precedent ⬇️
🔴 DNA PROVED SHE IS NOT MADELEINE
Jurors were reminded that DNA samples taken in February and it’s full findings were shared in court this morning. It prooved Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann. Samples were taken to stop her behaviour towards the McCann family ⬇️
🔴 DIDN’T SEEM TO ACCEPT POLICE VIEW
When told that Operation Grange detectives had determined she was not Madeleine, she “did not appear to accept this opinion”. Referring to the phone call where she was informed, Wandelt told the jury: “if it took place , I don’t ever recall it” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ALLEGEDLY ‘VERY CONFUSED’ BY POLICE
She told the court she would have accepted she was not Madeleine if the police had done a DNA test in June 2022.
“I thought they would do the DNA test straight away. It’s very confusing” ⬇️
🔴 EXPECTED VERY DIFFERENT POLICE RESPONSE
Wandelt said she believed the police would “investigate my case, take a statement and help me find out the truth”.
She said she did not expect to be “pushed away” ⬇️
🔴 ‘NOT SURPRISED MET DIDN’T FIND MADELEINE’
Wandelt told the court: “If the police treated their daughter’s case the way they treated me, I’m not surprised they didn’t find their daughter. I still don’t know why they didn’t want to do this DNA case” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 TRIED TO COVER ALL BASES
Wandelt told jurors: “I did not want to contact Kate and Gerry and the McCann family until I contacted every single person I can. I did everything before.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE FAMILY FALSE HOPE’
Julia Wandelt told jurors she contacted as many missing persons groups as possible before reaching out to the McCanns.
“I didn’t want to give them false hope or cause them any distress,” she said ⬇️
🔴 TRIED TO COVER EVERY INSTITUTION
Wandelt: “I just wanted to try everything, contact every institution I had in my mind before getting in touch with the parents of Madeleine directly” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 PURSUED ALL LINES BEFORE CONTACTING FAMILY DIRECTLY
The court heard Julia Wandelt attempted to reach embassies, ministries, journalists and private detectives across the UK, Portugal and Poland before going to the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 REACHED OUT WIDELY
She emailed or phoned a British investigative journalist, German police, and several missing persons groups before approaching the McCanns ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 CONTACTED HOSPITAL AFTER POLICE REFUSAL
The court heard Julia Wandelt tried to reach Kate and Gerry McCann in 2022 via the hospital in Leicester where they worked ⬇️
🔴 ‘POLICE WOULDN’T HELP’
Wandelt told the court: “I admit I contacted the hospital, but the reason was because the police wouldn’t help me.” ⬇️
🔴 CALL LASTED OVER 20 MINUTES
The court was told the call to the hospital lasted more than 20 minutes ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 REACHES OUT TO UK POLICE
Wandelt emailed Operation Grange on 24 June 2022 saying: “Hello I’m writing you because I think I could be Madeleine McCann.” ⬇️
🔴 LIST OF REASONS
She cited that her belief was based on the mark on her eye that allegedly matches Madeleine, doubts about her documents, her parents refusing to show her birth certificate, and limited childhood memories before age nine ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 SIGNS POINTED TO MADELEINE
The court heard Wandelt found indicators online that made her think she might be Madeleine McCann ⬇️
🔴 MOTIVATION: TO FIND HERSELF
She told the court her driving motivation was simple: “I just wanted to find out who I am.” ⬇️
🔴 MOTIVE QUESTIONED
Defence asked Wandelt if she was drawn to the Madeleine case because of publicity. “No,” she replied ⬇️
🔴 FINANCIAL MOTIVE DENIED
Asked if she hoped to gain financially, Wandelt again said: “No” ⬇️
🔴 COINCIDENCES & SUSPICIONS DREW HER TO MADELEINE CASE
Citing her motive as:
“I just wanted to find out who I am.”
Wandelt said discovering her abuser shared the same surname as a previous Madeleine suspect “was a big factor” in her focus on the McCann case ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ACACIA BISHOP CASE - ‘I THOUGHT I HAD A CONNECTION’
She said one name — Acacia Bishop — stood out. Wandelt told the court she looked into the case, believing she “might have a connection” to the missing girl ⬇️
🔴 FIRST HEARD OF MADELEINE
Wandelt told jurors she first became aware of Madeleine McCann in June 2022, while in hospital. She began searching missing persons databases for children around her own age ⬇️
🔴 JOINED MADDIE ONLINE COMMUNITIES
She discovered the official website and joined Facebook groups “dedicated to Madeleine McCann.” Wandelt said: “There were a lot of people talking about a lot of theories.” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 BROWSING MISSING GIRLS ONLINE
From 2022 Wandelt began searching online missing persons databases and comparing herself to girls aged up to three years older or younger than herself, checking for matching appearance ⬇️
🔴 ABDUCTION THEORY EMERGES
Wandelt’s online searches fitted into her theory that she wasn’t brought up by her real parents at all — but was an abducted child, trapped in a life built on lies and silence ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 SEARCH FOR ANSWERS
Julia Wandelt told jurors she was admitted to hospital in May 2022 — a period she described as one of the darkest of her life. ⬇️
🔴 CALL TO HER FATHER
She said she phoned her father from hospital, hoping to “find out why I was in such a dark place” — believing more information about her childhood would provide answers ⬇️
🔴 SEARCH FOR A LOST IDENTITY
She said she started to think her parents were “hiding something” — and began searching online for missing girls who could be her, convinced she had been “lied to” about her identity ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘THERAPIST MADE ME REFLECT ON MY LIFE’
After seeing a psychologist in 2020, Wandelt said she “started to reflect on my life more and everything that happened”. The sessions, she told jurors, led her to question her upbringing and identity ⬇️
🔴 INFLUENCE OF THERAPY SESSIONS: ‘I STARTED ASKING MY PARENTS EVERYTHING’
She told jurors: “I started with asking questions because I just could not believe there was nothing else in the story of what happened to me” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 RELATIVE JAILED FOR CHILDHOOD ABUSE OF WANDELT
Miss Wandelt has told the court she was abused at age nine by her step-grandfather - & not supported by her grandmother who told her to tell no-one. Her step-grandfather was jailed for abusing her ⬇️
🔴 MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES
The 24-year-old said she began therapy as a teenager because of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. She described years of “extreme emotional problems” and said she had attempted to take her own life on four occasions ⬇️
🔴 TOXIC ONLINE RISKS
Wandelt said she would “look online to find people who would abuse me” — describing it as part of her self-destructive behaviour ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 ‘I DON’T BELIEVE THEY’RE MY PARENTS’
Wandelt told the jury she does not believe she is her parents’ biological daughter — citing physical differences and a lack of early memories. “My mother has brown hair and brown eyes. My father too. I look different,” she said ⬇️
🔴 QUESTIONS OVER BIRTH CERTIFICATE
She said she repeatedly asked to see her birth certificate but her parents “never wanted to provide it”. When she called the local registry office herself, officials said she wasn’t adopted — a reply she said made her “question even more” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DEFENDANT OUTLINES UPBRINGING IN POLAND
Taking the stand, Julia Wandelt told jurors she grew up in Lubin, Poland, and once hoped to become an X-ray technician before later applying to study criminology ⬇️
🔴 LEFT STUDIES TO PURSUE ‘PERSONAL JOURNEY’
Wandelt said she began a criminology course in October 2023 but left soon after, telling jurors she abandoned higher education because of her “personal journey” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 MCCANN STALKING TRIAL DAY 13 LIVE : JULIA WANDELT TAKES THE STAND
Follow our live updates as the woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann faces questions at Leicester Crown Court.
🔴 JULIA WANDELT TAKES THE STAND
Defendant Julia Wandelt has been sworn in at Leicester Crown Court. She will begin giving evidence to the jury this afternoon, with questioning led by her defence barrister Tom Price KC ⬇️
DAY 9 COVERAGE
UPDATES
🔴 CONTACT BEGAN AGAIN IN 2024
Ms Gorman said contact resumed the following summer: “She was demanding a DNA test, and was still claiming to be Madeleine.” ⬇️
🔴 “I’M RELATED TO YOU”
In a message addressed directly to Kate and Gerry McCann last October, Wandelt allegedly wrote: “I’m related to you. I’m not crazy, not a liar. I’m trying to prove who I am. Please help me.” ⬇️
🔴 HEARING ADJOURNED
Ms Gorman has now finished giving evidence. The court has adjourned for the day and proceedings will resume tomorrow ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 FIRST EMAIL FROM WANDELT IN 2022
Ms Gorman told jurors the website received an email from Julia Wandelt in June 2022, where she claimed she was Madeleine McCann. A second message followed in August that year ⬇️
🔴 EMAILS PASSED TO SCOTLAND YARD
Jurors heard the messages were forwarded to detectives from Operation Grange — the Metropolitan Police investigation still working with Portuguese and German authorities. ⬇️
🔴 FURTHER WAVE OF EMAILS IN 2023
The court was told that in 2023 Wandelt sent “multiple” emails to the site over the course of a single week, repeating her claim to be Madeleine. ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 FIND MADELEINE WEBSITE CONTACTED BY WANDELT
Jurors heard evidence about the Find Madeleine website — the long-running official portal for information about Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, still maintained from the United States ⬇️
🔴 AMERICAN WITNESS GIVES EVIDENCE
The court heard from Stacey Gorman, based in Washington DC, who helps operate the Find Madeleine campaign site on behalf of Kate and Gerry McCann.
🔴 PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION SHARING
Jurors were told the site allows visitors to submit information directly to the investigation team via email or phone — intended for those who want to help the search.
The site continues to feature updates from Kate and Gerry McCann ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 FORENSIC SCIENTIST IN WITNESS BOX
Jurors are now hearing from forensic expert Rosalind Hammond, who explained the mechanics of DNA samples - identical whether taken from blood, saliva or hair roots ⬇️
🔴 ‘JULIA WANDELT CANNOT BE MADELEINE’
Ms Hammond told the jury what laboratory analysis revealed : “The profiles from the two samples are different. Julia Wandelt cannot be Madeleine McCann.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘NOT RELATED TO KATE OR GERRY’
The court heard the DNA profile of Julia Wandelt shows she is not the biological child of Kate or Gerry McCann — and not the child of either one individually ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 COURT HEARS EXPERT EVIDENCE AND NEW DETAILS
Jurors at Leicester Crown Court are hearing forensic evidence and further details about the DNA comparison central to the case ⬇️
🔴 MADDIE’S DNA PROFILE SECURED
Jurors heard a profile of Madeleine McCann’s DNA was obtained from a pillowcase in her bedroom just days after she vanished in 2007, and from a neo-natal blood test taken shortly after her birth in 2003 ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT’S DNA OBTAINED UPON ARREST FOR STALKING
Leicester Crown Court was told Julia Wandelt’s DNA was taken from a mouth swab after her arrest in February this year - hoping it could persuade Wandelt of the truth ⬇️
DAY 8 COVERAGE
UPDATES
Court hears how Wandelt also contacted Fiona Payne’s daughter — prompting concern from the long-time McCann friend ⬇️
🔴 ‘SHE HAD SOUGHT TO MANIPULATE HER’
Mrs Payne told jurors her daughter had received messages from Wandelt “along similar lines but perhaps more emotive.” She said: “I felt angry that she had sought to manipulate her” ⬇️
🔴 ‘IT’S DISTURBING’
Asked how she felt about the contact, Mrs Payne said: “It’s disturbing. We have had lots of contact from various people over the years, but never from anyone who thinks they could be Madeleine.” ⬇️
🔴 HEARING ADJOURNED
Today’s hearing has been adjourned. The trial will resume at 2pm ⬇️
UPDATES
Court hears from Fiona Payne, a close friend of the McCanns, who was with them in Portugal on the day Madeleine disappeared ⬇️
🔴 ‘I’VE KNOWN THE MCCANNS 25 YEARS’
Fiona Payne told the jury she has known Kate and Gerry McCann for around 25 years and was with them “on the day Madeleine disappeared.” She said she recalls Kate being “very upset” about Wandelt’s claims ⬇️
🔴 WAS EXPECTING CALL FROM WANDELT
Mrs Payne said she received a call from Julia Wandelt last October — shortly after Wandelt rang her husband — and admitted she had been “somewhat expecting it” ⬇️
🔴 MESSAGES FOUND IN SPAM FOLDER
Jurors heard Mrs Payne also found Facebook messages from Wandelt last week after checking her spam folder. They included pictures of DNA reports and pleas to “help” with a DNA test ⬇️
🔴 ‘PLEASE HELP ME – I REALLY DON’T LIE’
In one message read to the jury, Wandelt wrote: “Hi, from what I’ve learned you are one of the few people who still believe Madeleine is alive. Please help me. I really don’t lie, I remember them” ⬇️
UPDATES
Court hears that the Operation Grange team has been drastically reduced as the long-running investigation continues in cooperation with German and Portuguese authorities ⬇️
🔴 JUST THREE OFFICERS ON CASE
DCI Cranwell confirmed Operation Grange now has only three officers. “Resourcing has been reduced,” he said — but the Met “is still working with Germany and Portugal” ⬇️
🔴 DETECTIVE LEAVES WITNESS BOX
DCI Cranwell has completed his testimony. The court will now move on to the next stage of the trial ⬇️
UPDATES
Detective Chief Inspector Cranwell continues his evidence — explaining how the scaled-down Operation Grange still handles new contacts claiming to be Madeleine ⬇️
🔴 ‘ONGOING LINES OF INQUIRY’
The officer said Operation Grange continues to pursue “two lines of inquiry” but told the court: “I don’t particularly want to go into those because it’s an ongoing investigation” ⬇️
🔴 12 PEOPLE CLAIMED TO BE MADDIE
Jurors heard twelve people have contacted Operation Grange over the years “claiming or believing” they were Madeleine McCann — including one who came forward just two months ago ⬇️
🔴 DNA TESTS RULED THEM ALL OUT
Each claim was checked against Madeleine’s DNA profile and ruled out. DCI Cranwell said the most recent case, just two months ago, was also conclusively ruled out by DNA ⬇️
UPDATES
Court hears from Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell, head of Operation Grange — the Met Police’s long-running investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann ⬇️
🔴 MADDIE INVESTIGATION BY UK COPS
DCI Mark Cranwell is back in the witness box at Leicester Crown Court, giving evidence about Operation Grange — the Met’s probe into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance ⬇️
🔴 INITIAL REVIEW ‘HAMPERED’
He said the original 2011 review of the Portuguese investigation “wasn’t successful” because the team was “slightly hampered” in its work ⬇️
🔴 FULL INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED IN 2012
DCI Cranwell told jurors the probe became a full investigation the following year, in 2012. He has led the case since 2018 ⬇️
DAY 7 - PM
UPDATES
🔴 HEARING ADJOURNED
The day’s court proceedings have now concluded. The trial at Leicester Crown Court will continue hearing evidence tomorrow morning ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 WANDELT RESPONDS TO DNA EVIDENCE
DCI Cranwell said Wandelt’s first response upon hearing that a DNA test has proven was not Madeleine McCann was to ask, “Do you have paperwork?” ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT QUESTIONS DETECTIVES
“I asked her if she now agreed she is not Madeleine. Her response was, ‘Do you have paperwork?’ She also commented on the fact an expert compared her profile with DNA in the Portuguese files and contained three potential persons” ⬇️
He told the court Wandelt then asked him, “Do you really want to find Madeleine?” Cranwell said both he and his colleague replied, “Yes.” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DCI DELIVERS DNA RESULTS TO WANDELT
DCI Mark Cranwell said he personally informed Julia Wandelt of the DNA results during a prison visit in April ⬇️
🔴 ‘YOU ARE NOT MADELEINE McCANN’
“I told her the sample was compared with Madeleine’s DNA — and she is not Madeleine McCann,” he said. “I asked her if she now agreed she is not Madeleine” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DETECTIVE REVEALS CONCERNS SURROUNDING DNA TEST
“My concerns were DNA would be confirmed of not being Madeleine and Julia would suggest we tampered with the sample. There’s a possibility she never accepts she is not Madeleine”⬇️
🔴 ‘CONCLUSIVE’ EVIDENCE
After Wandelt’s arrest on harassment charges, a DNA test was ordered by investigators hoping to dissuade her from further harassment. “A comparison took place and it conclusively proved Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann." ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DETECTIVE: ‘HARASSMENT THRESHOLD REACHED’
DCI Cranwell said he authorised Julia Wandelt’s arrest after she began contacting Madeleine’s siblings, Sean and Amelie. He told jurors: “My assessment was she had reached the threshold for harassment — stalking.” ⬇️
🔴 BOMBSHELL IN COURT: “WANDELT ARRESTED - DNA TEST TRIGGERED”
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell revealed a DNA test was finally carried out on Julia Wandelt after her arrest for stalking the McCann family ⬇️
🔴 DNA SAMPLE AUTHORISED
The officer said he made the decision to obtain a DNA sample “upon her arrest” to prove once and for all she was not Madeleine McCann. He told the jury: “The decision weighed heavily on my mind” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I WAS NERVOUS — BUT IT WAS RIGHT’
Cranwell said he authorised the DNA test to “prove she was not Madeleine” and to protect the McCanns ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 DETECTIVE IN WITNESS BOX
The court is now hearing from DCI Mark Cranwell, head of Operation Grange — the Met Police team dedicated to finding missing Madeleine McCann ⬇️
🔴 ‘TWELVE HAVE CLAIMED TO BE MADDIE’
DCI Cranwell told jurors that 12 people have contacted police “claiming or believing they are Madeleine.”
Each was ruled out after investigators compared photographs and other details ⬇️
🔴 VAST INVESTIGATION
Operation Grange has received over 22,000 emails and holds more than 42,000 documents, the senior detective said. He’s led the inquiry since 2018 ⬇️
🔴 OPERATION GRANGE SIGNIFICANTLY SCALED DOWN
DCI Mark Cranwell told jurors Operation Grange now operates on a part-time basis. He said he and a deputy work one day a week, while a detective works two days a week ⬇️
🔴 LIVE DAY 7- PM : MCCANN STALKING TRIAL
Follow our live updates as Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg face stalking charges at Leicester Crown Court. Stay tuned to our x thread or https://x.com/ukcourtslive/status/1978092353140174885 or read on our website - ⬇️
DAY 7 - AM
UPDATES
🔴 SPRAGG’S MESSAGE TO KATE MCCANN
Jurors this have heard a voicemail Karen Spragg left on Kate McCann’s phone, urging her to take a DNA test “for Julia’s sake.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘JULIA IS A VERY CLOSE RELATIVE’
Spragg told Kate in the message that Wandelt had discovered she was “a very close relative” — and said a DNA test could prove it once and for all ⬇️
🔴 ‘DO A DNA TEST — FOR JULIA’S SAKE’
“If you really want to find your daughter…” Spragg said.
“I’m begging you please, for Julia’s sake — do a DNA, and she will go away if she is not Madeleine.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘MAYBE THIS IS A COVER-UP’
Spragg warned: “At the moment your name is going round, saying there is a cover-up. Maybe this could be a cover-up. Please take this seriously, OK?” ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 “YOU ARE MUMMY. YOU KNOW IT’S ME.”
Yesterday in court Jurors heard voicemails in which Julia Wandelt pleaded with Kate McCann: “You are mummy. You know it’s me. Don’t block me” ⬇️
🔴 “I JUST WANT A DNA TEST.”
Jurors heard Wandelt repeatedly beg Kate McCann to agree to a DNA test, saying in one voicemail: “I really believe I’m your daughter. Please, just take the test. I need to know who I am.” ⬇️
🔴 McCANN STALKING TRIAL - DAY 7 - AM
Live updates, direct from Court as Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg face stalking charges in Leicester.
🔴 COURT IS BACK IN SESSION
The jury has taken their seats & proceedings are about to get underway at Leicester Crown Court in the Julia Wandelt trial ⬇️
DAY 6 - PM
🔴 LIVE DAY 6- PM : MCCANN STALKING TRIAL
Follow our live updates as Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg face stalking charges at Leicester Crown Court. Stay tuned to our thread or read here on our website - ⬇️
4:30 UPDATE
🔴 HEARING ADJOURNED
Today’s hearing has now been adjourned. Proceedings will resume in tomorrow morning at 10am from Leicester Crown Court ⬇️
2:50 UPDATES
🔴 “I WON’T GIVE UP”
Jurors heard how Gerry McCann briefly answered his wife’s phone before hanging up after Wandelt identified herself.
Moments later she left a voicemail saying: “I won’t give up.” ⬇️
🔴 “I’M JUST TRYING TO FIND MY FAMILY”
In the same voicemail, Wandelt added: “I’m just trying to find my biological family. I really believe I am Madeleine. I’m trying to find out who I really am, I really believe I am Madeleine” ⬇️
DAY 6 - AM
1pm UPDATES
Court hers how Kate is sent voicemails pleading for DNA test.
🔴 ‘ONLY YOU CAN HELP ME’
In one recording, Wandelt said: “I’m not crazy, I’m not a liar. Please take me seriously. You’re the only person who can help me.” ⬇️
🔴 “I JUST WANT A DNA TEST”
In a voicemail played to jurors, Wandelt said: “I really believe you are my biological mother. I just want a DNA test” ⬇️
🔴 “I WILL LEAVE YOU ALL ALONE”
Court hears Wandelt’s voicemail to Kate McCann : “If I’m not Madeleine McCann, I will leave you all alone. Just don’t reject me. I know the parents that raised me aren’t my parents.” ⬇️
🔴 “WHAT’S THE HARM IN A DNA TEST?”
In another message, Wandelt urged Kate McCann: “You say you want to find Madeleine, so take the DNA test. What’s the harm in having a DNA test? I can pay for it.” ⬇️
12:20 UPDATES
Court hears text messages and voicemails sent to Kate McCann
🔴 TEXTS TO KATE MCCANN
Jurors were shown messages allegedly sent by Julia Wandelt to Kate McCann, pleading: “Don’t block me, don’t give up on me, don’t reject me.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘YOU ARE MUMMY — YOU KNOW IT’S ME’
In other messages, Wandelt claimed she remembered life before the abduction and insisted: “You are mummy. You know it’s me. You know I’m not crazy.” ⬇️
🔴 VOICEMAILS PLAYED IN COURT
Jurors also heard voicemails left on Kate McCann’s phone, where Wandelt said she could “prove who I am” and recalled “having a barbecue with you and Gerry.” ⬇️
BACK IN COURT
🔴 McCANN STALKING TRIAL - DAY 5 - AM
Live updates, direct from Court as Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg face stalking charges at Leicester Crown Court ⬇️
🔴 LAST WEEK IN COURT
Jurors heard evidence from Madeleine McCann’s parents Kate& Jerry, siblings Amelie & Sean, family friends, and Operation Grange detectives — describing how Julia Wandelt repeatedly contacted the McCanns claiming to be Madeleine ⬇️
🔴 WHAT’S NEXT
The defendants are yet to take the stand. Further expert testimony is also expected at Leicester Crown Court ⬇️
DAY 5- PM
🔴 TRIAL ADJOURNED UNTIL MONDAY
Sgt Harper has finished giving her evidence. The case has now been adjourned and will resume on Monday morning ⬇️
UPDATES
New witness takes the stand, delivering testimony on the visit by Spragg and Wandelt to a Leicester police station with paperwork and claims regarding relation to McCanns:
🔴 NEW WITNESS: POLICE SERGEANT TESTIFIES
Jurors are now hearing from Sgt Samantha Harper of Leicestershire Police ⬇️
🔴 TURNED UP AT POLICE STATION
Sgt Harper told the court that Julia Wandelt and Christian Spragg arrived unannounced at a Leicester police station last December ⬇️
🔴 ‘ERRATIC & EXCITABLE’
Sgt Harper told jurors: “I remember Julia being quite erratic, excitable and talking very fast” ⬇️
🔴 ‘MADELEINE’S NAME CROPPED UP'
“She was saying something to do with documents around DNA. There was lots of paperwork,” The officer said.
“I think Madeleine’s name cropped up.” ⬇️
🔴 IMPRESSIONS OF CO-DEFENDANT SPRAGG
The officer told the court “Karen came across as a lot more reasonable than Julia.” ⬇️
UPDATES
Questioning of investigator by the defence:
🔴 CROSS-EXAMINATION BEGINS
The trial resumes after lunch with DC Mark Draycott being cross-examined by Wandelt’s barrister ⬇️
🔴 ‘SATISFIED SHE’S NOT MADELEINE’
Asked what inquiries were made, DC Draycott said: “We were satisfied Julia was not Madeleine McCann. It was evident from the photo she sent and the information she gave.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘EXPLOITED BY OTHERS’
The officer added he felt Wandelt had been “exploited by others.” ⬇️
🔴 DETECTIVE FINISHES EVIDENCE
DC Draycott has now concluded his testimony in the stalking trial ⬇️
🔴 LIVE DAY 5 - PM : MCCANN STALKING TRIAL
Follow our live coverage of Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg’s trial at Leicester Crown Court. Subscribe to @UKCourtsLive & switch on notifications for the latest updates as they happen. Stay tuned to our thread ⬇️
DAY 5 - AM
UPDATES
Detective explains DNA test refusal before court break for lunch
🔴 DNA TEST NOT WORTHWHILE
In the call, Det Con Draycott told Wandelt: “We are not testing DNA. We can’t spend public money on something like this. We know that you are not Madeleine McCann.” ⬇️
🔴 CLEAR & ‘UNEQUIVOCAL’ REFUSAL TO TEST DNA
Asked about the call, DC Draycott said: “I was told to tell her in no uncertain terms that she was not Madeleine McCann and we would not be testing her DNA.” ⬇️
🔴 COURT ADJOURNED
The morning seems has ended & the hearing has been paused for lunch. The afternoon session will begin at 2.30pm ⬇️
UPDATES
🔴 CALL FROM DETECTIVES TO WANDELT PLAYED TO JURORS
The court heard a call between Wandelt & Det Con Mark Draycott was recorded — and later appeared on a YouTube podcast. Jurors were played the full recording today ⬇️
🔴 ‘YOU ARE NOT MADELEINE MCCANN’
In the call, DC Draycott told Wandelt: “All I’m going to say is, you are not Madeleine McCann, okay? We have worked on this investigation since 2011.” ⬇️
🔴 POLICE ‘EXTREMELY EXPERIENCED IN THIS’
He told her: “We are extremely experienced in this. You are not the first person and won’t be the last person who thinks they are Madeleine.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘NO FACTS TO SAY YOU ARE MADELEINE’
The officer said plainly: “There are no facts at all to say you are Madeleine.” ⬇️
UPDATES
In a phone call to Wandelt, detectives make clear that she has no valid claim and they have no interest in her input, and she should not contact the McCann’s, risking arrest if she does so.
🔴 ‘WE GO BY EVIDENCE’
“We go by evidence,” DC Draycott told her. “There is no evidence to say you are Madeleine.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘EVERYTHING YOU SAY WE’VE DISPROVED’
He added: “Everything you say we have been able to disprove.” ⬇️
🔴 POLICE DRAW LINE UNDER CONTACT
DC Draycott said: “We will not speak to you again. If you ring the British police or go to Leicester again, any contact will come back to us — to Operation Grange.” ⬇️
🔴 WARNING ISSUED
He added: “If you go to Leicester again… there is an offence called harassment. You could be arrested.” ⬇️
UPDATES
Detectives tell Wandelt she is not Madeleine. Wandelt appears relieved.
🔴 POLICE CALLED TO INFORM HER
DC Draycott told jurors he rang Wandelt in June 2022, “to reassure her she was not Madeleine McCann.” This was shortly after she had been to the McCann’s home ⬇️
🔴 ‘RELIEVED TO KNOW SHE WAS NOT MADDIE’
DC Draycott said Wandelt appeared “relieved” after he told her she was not Madeleine McCann, following his review of her photos and details ⬇️
🔴 HUNDREDS CLAIMED TO BE MADDIE
He told jurors that during his time with Operation Grange, “hundreds of people” claimed to be Madeleine ⬇️
UPDATES
Detective on Madeleine case shares reaction to the claims
🔴 WANDELT NOT MADELEINE
After speaking with Wandelt, he wrote a report stating “this girl is not Madeleine McCann.” He noted she had different eye features & was not Madeleine’s age ⬇️
🔴 ‘SEEMED TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS’
DC Draycott told the court: “We used our professional expertise from studying the photos to say she was not Madeleine McCann.” He said in his police report that Wandelt “seems to have mental health problems.” ⬇️
UPDATES
The team responsible for the Madeleine McCann missing persons case are contacted by Wandelt & Spragg
🔴 OPERATION GRANGE DETECTIVE GIVES EVIDENCE
Jurors are hearing from Det Con Mark Draycott, part of Scotland Yard’s £13m investigation into Madeleine McCann. He explained Operation Grange was launched in 2011 “to try to discover what happened to Madeleine.” ⬇️
🔴 CLAIMS SHE IS MADELEINE
DC Draycott told the court Wandelt called him in June 2022, claiming she was Madeleine McCann ⬇️
🔴 FOUR DETECTIVE TEAM
DC Draycott said in 2022 there were only four detectives on Operation Grange. He described the team as “very small.” ⬇️
UPDATES
Vicar continues to give evidence.
🔴 JULIA WANDELT CLAIMS MCCANNS ARE HER REAL FAMILY
“She said she was Madeleine. She said her real parents were Kate and Gerry McCann.” ⬇️
🔴 NO FAMILY RESEMBLANCE; CLAIMS DISMISSED
“Pretty instantly, from knowing Gerry and Kate and seeing Sean and Amelie grow up, her physique bore no resemblance to the McCann family. I could see no way she was related,” the vicar said ⬇️
🔴 VICAR HAS FINISHED EVIDENCE
Rev Robert Gladstone has finished giving evidence and left the stand at Leicester Crown Court
UPDATES
Evidence from vicar who heard from Wandelt at annual 'vigil' for Maddy.
🔴 VICAR ON STAND
Rev Robert Gladstone, vicar of Rothley Parish Church, now on the stand has confirmed he has known the McCann family since Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007 ⬇️
🔴 ‘SHE SAID SHE WAS MADELEINE’
Rev Gladstone told the court he first encountered Wandelt at the vigil & heard her claims ⬇️
UPDATES
Relative became aware of alleged harassment and did not hand letter to McCann's. Speaks of impact on family.
🔴 LETTER NEVER REACHED FAMILY
Janet Kennedy said she kept the envelope Julia Wandelt handed her but “tore it up” after the alleged bombardment of Kate and Gerry with calls and emails ⬇️
🔴 ‘IT’S BEEN TRAUMATIC’
Kate’s aunt Janet told the jury Wandelt is the only person ever to attend a vigil claiming to be Madeleine. “She pursued it the way she has — even arriving at the house,” Janet said ⬇️
🔴 THREAT OF TURNING UP
“She would message Kate saying she intended to turn up at Mass in Rothley. Kate didn’t feel able to come. The uncertainty produces anxiety,” Janet told the court ⬇️
🔴 EFFECT ON FAMILY
Janet said: “Kate is like a daughter to me. Anything that affects her affects me. We get anxious and feel for her. It’s been very traumatic for us.” ⬇️
🔴 WEARS GREEN & YELLOW WRISTBAND
Janet gave evidence wearing a green and yellow ‘Find Madeleine’ wristband as she described the incident ⬇️
UPDATES
Relative describes her reaction to Wandelt's claim at vigil for missing children.
🔴 TOOK THE ENVELOPE
Janet Kennedy said she wanted to be calm and polite, so she accepted the envelope Julia handed her and thanked her ⬇️
🔴 ‘INTUITIVE RECOGNITION’ IS RELIABLE, CLAIMS AUNT
“I think one’s recognition of someone is something that is intuitive. You just know the person,” Janet told jurors. ⬇️
🔴 JULIA WANDELT LACKED MADELEINE’S ESSENCE
“It was 17 years on, but the essential person that Madeleine is/was was not there,” she said ⬇️
🔴 YEARS DON’T HIDE THE ESSENCE
“Even though she was nearly four when abducted, 17 years later the essential person would still be recognisable,” Janet added ⬇️
UPDATES
Kate's aunt tells of shock claim made by Wandelt at event for missing children.
🔴 ‘MINISTER SAID SOMEONE WANTED TO SPEAK TO FAMILY’
Kate & Jerry were not at the event. Posters & photos of Madeleine were displayed at the church gathering. At the end, the minister presented Julia, saying she wanted to speak to a family member. ⬇️
🔴 SHOCK CLAIM: ‘I AM MADELEINE & CAN PROVE IT’
Kate McCann’s aunt Janet told jurors Julia claimed to be Madeleine & handed her an envelope “with information to prove it.”
“She said she was sorry Kate & Gerry weren’t there and wanted me to pass it on.” ⬇️
🔴 INSTANT REACTION: ‘NO WAY SHE WAS MADELEINE’
“I was stunned by her approach,” Janet said. “I looked at her and thought — she isn’t Madeleine. There was no way she was Madeleine at all.”
UPDATES
🔴 KATE’S CONFIDANT ON THE STAND
Day five of the trial has begun at Leicester Crown Court. Jurors are hearing from Janet Kennedy — Kate McCann’s aunt — who described herself as a “confidant” of Kate’s ⬇️
🔴 ‘MADDIE WAS PART OF OUR LIVES’
Kate’s aunt Janet Kennedy said she had known Madeleine well & organised an annual church gathering praying for the safe return of Maddie & all missing children. ⬇️
——————————————
🔴 DAY 4 - PM: LIVE FROM COURT UPDATES:
——————————————
🔴 COURT ADJOURNS
The hearing has finished for the day and will resume tomorrow morning at Leicester Crown Court. Subscribe to @UKCourtsLive & switch on notifications for latest live updates.
🔴 PRESSURISED TO CONTACT KATE
She added:
“It was emotional for me. The language used was emotive. She wanted me to contact Kate and I felt she was pressurising me to do that for her.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘VERY TRIGGERING’ IMPACT
Linda McQueen told the jury: “It’s very triggering. It brings it all back. It’s concerning that somebody has information about you, your family and friends and is using it to get under Kate’s skin.” ⬇️
🔴 DESPERATE PLEAS FOUND IN OWN SPAM FOLDER
Linda said she later checked her own Facebook spam messages and found one from Wandelt reading: “Hi, from what I have learned you are one of the few people who believes Madeleine is alive.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘SHOCKED & UPSET’ AT MESSAGE TO DAUGHTER
Kate McCann’s lifelong friend Linda McQueen told jurors she was “shocked” and “upset” to discover Wandelt had contacted her daughter Ellie, saying she’d had “no idea” the woman had reached out ⬇️
🔴 KATE’S FRIEND GIVES EVIDENCE
Linda McQueen, Maddie’s mum’s lifelong friend and Sean’s godmother, is now in the witness box. She has known Kate McCann for 55 years, having grown up with her in Liverpool ⬇️
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🔴 DAY 4 - AM: LIVE FROM COURT UPDATES:
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🔴 COURT ADJOURNS FOR LUNCH
The hearing has now been paused for lunch and is scheduled to resume at 1.45pm. ⬇️
🔴 MADDIE WAS LIKE A LITTLE SISTER
Ellie McQueen told Leicester Crown Court that Madeleine McCann was:
“like a little sister to me,”
reflecting the close bond she had with the family. ⬇️
🔴 TRIGGERING AND DISTRESSING
Ellie added that Wandelt’s attempts were distressing for the McCanns: “The whole thing is very traumatic and triggering. Julia was trying to insert herself into our private lives and family communications.” ⬇️
🔴 KATE IS PRIVATE
Ellie said Wandelt appeared to know the family’s inner circle:
“It’s a traumatic case. Kate deals with quite a lot, but this is different. I would never put Kate in that position — contacting someone she doesn’t know. Kate is very private.” ⬇️
🔴 SAID SHE WAS THREATENED BY OPERATION GRANGE
Ellie told jurors Wandelt claimed she had been threatened by the police investigation team, Operation Grange.
“She seemed angry and upset that nobody believed who she was,”
Ellie said. ⬇️
🔴 CLAIMED TO HAVE DNA PROOF
Ellie McQueen told the jury that Julia Wandelt said she wanted to provide DNA evidence to prove she was Madeleine. “She said she had a feeling she remembered things and that she was Madeleine,” Ellie said. ⬇️
🔴 TRIED TO RECRUIT ME TO CONTACT MCCANNS
Ellie McQueen told the jury:
“Julia was trying to get me to contact the family to let them know she wanted to speak to them. She seemed to know my mum is very close to Kate and was trying to get her to speak to Kate.” ⬇️
🔴 PROFILE NAME ‘JULIA JULIA’
“The profile name on Facebook was ‘Julia Julia’,” Ellie told jurors ⬇️
🔴 MESSAGES STARTED JUNE 2024
Ellie said: “I first received messages on Facebook in June 2024 and later more around February. I wasn’t aware of this until late February or early March. Checking my spam, there were many messages dating back quite a while.” ⬇️
🔴 CONTACT FROM JULIA ‘RELENTLESS’
“But Julia came on our radar because Kate had mentioned it to me and my mum. It was quite relentless. There was a lot of contact trying to be made by Julia towards the family.” ⬇️
🔴 RECEIVED MESSAGES FROM JULIA
Ellie said: “Julia’s name had been on the news and came up quite a few times. We don’t pay much attention to the Maddie case unless Kate has said something directly.” ⬇️
🔴 TRAVELLED TO PORTUGAL IN 2007
The court heard Ellie travelled to Portugal with her mum shortly after Madeleine’s disappearance. ⬇️
🔴 FOURTH WITNESS IN THE BOX
Jurors are now hearing from Ellie McQueen, whose mum grew up with Kate McCann in Liverpool and is Sean’s godmother. Ellie told the court she has “a lot of memories” of Madeleine growing up. ⬇️
🔴 SEAN’S STATEMENT ENDS
Prosecutors have now finished reading Sean McCann’s statement to jurors at Leicester Crown Court. ⬇️
🔴 ‘NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY’
He added:
I’m not interested in what she has to say. I do not believe she is Madeleine,”
telling jurors her contact left him distressed ⬇️
🔴 ‘HURTFUL & UPSETTING’
Sean described Wandelt’s claims as “hurtful” and said they were “a very sensitive topic for me and the family.” ⬇️
🔴 FAMILY IMPACT
Sean said seeing his mum & sister upset “of course makes me upset,” describing the effect of Wandelt’s messages on the whole family. ⬇️
🔴 ‘DEEPLY DISTURBING’ CLAIMS
Sean said of the messages & Wandelt’s claims : “I do not believe she is my sister. I find it deeply disturbing.” ⬇️
🔴 ACCOUNT NAMED ‘I AM MADELEINE MCCANN’
He told the court of the name “I Am Madeleine McCann” was used by one of the accounts that messaged him ⬇️
🔴 ‘PERSISTENT & STRANGE’ MESSAGES
Sean McCann said Wandelt had
“Been stalking me and my family”,
contacting him “persistently” on Instagram ⬇️
🔴 STATEMENT FROM MADDIE’S BROTHER
An agreed statement from Sean McCann, 20, is now being read to the court. ⬇️
🔴 EVIDENCE HEARD
Amelie McCann has finished giving her evidence ⬇️
🔴 LINKEDIN CONTACT
Amelie said Wandelt even tried to reach her on LinkedIn. “She literally tried any way to get to me. I thought it was quite extreme.” ⬇️
🔴 PANIC ALARM INSTALLED
The family installed a panic alarm connected to police in Leicestershire:
“That’s not normal… The thought of her potentially turning up is very scary for me.”
🔴 DISTURBING EDITED PHOTOS
The letter included photos of Amelie and Wandelt, some altered to make her look more like Amelie:
“It made me feel very uncomfortable,”
she told the court ⬇️
🔴 LAST HOPE LETTER
Amelie received a letter at home from Wandelt saying she was her “last hope” and really needed her help. ⬇️
🔴 MUM HARASSED WITH MANIPULATIVE MESSAGES
“She was begging you to believe her, playing with your emotions, making you question yourself… saying ‘I’m your daughter’. My mum really struggled.” ⬇️
🔴 CONSTANT PHONE CALLS TOOK A TOLL ON MUM
Amelie:
“All the time her phone would be going off and it would be Julia. It was upsetting and emotionally exhausting.” ⬇️
🔴 FACEBOOK MESSAGES IGNORED THEN BLOCKED
Amelie said Wandelt’s messages sat in Facebook requests. She ignored them at first but later blocked her. ⬇️
🔴 ‘BLOCKED ON TIKTOK’
Amelie McCann said she blocked Wandelt on TikTok because she could see when someone viewed her profile:
“It was such a regular occurrence, I felt uncomfortable… I definitely blocked her on that.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT SHE’D DO NEXT’
Amelie McCann told the court a message from Wandelt made her feel:
“not scared, but… you don’t know what she would do next.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘A BIT SCARY’
Amelie McCann said a message from Wandelt showed the lengths she’d go to get heard:
“which is a bit scary” because “it shows you the lengths she would go to” ⬇️
🔴 EDITED PHOTOS SENT TO AMELIE
Amelie McCann told the court Wandelt sent a letter with edited photos of them to make them look alike:
“It was disturbing… I knew it had been changed,” she said. ⬇️
🔴 BLOCKED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Amelie McCann told the court she blocked Wandelt on Facebook and TikTok, then showed her mum Kate a WhatsApp screen recording of all the messages she had received:
“There were so many I was just scrolling and scrolling,” she said ⬇️
🔴 ‘I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES’
Amelie McCann told the court Wandelt messaged her:
“I will do whatever it takes” to prove she was Madeleine. She said: “It shows the lengths she would go to… it was scary as you don’t know what she would do next.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘NO DNA TEST NEEDED’
Asked if she wanted a DNA test with Wandelt, Amelie said:
“No… I always knew she wasn’t Madeleine, and those around me didn’t think it was appropriate either.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I DIDN’T REPLY TO PROTECT MYSELF’
Amelie McCann told jurors she didn’t respond to messages from Wandelt:
“I don’t usually reply to people I don’t know, to protect myself really.” ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT REPORTS ‘FLASHBACKS’
Amelie McCann told the court that Wandelt’s first message to her in January 2024 said:
“I have so many flashbacks. I know so many things. I don’t know if this is the real account for Amelie McCann but I can tell you my memories.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘SHE MESSAGED ME ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM’
Amelie McCann told the court Wandelt contacted her across multiple social media platforms:
“She messaged me on other platforms — I think Instagram — but mostly Facebook.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘IT WAS QUITE DISTURBING’
She said she was shaken when Wandelt claimed to have childhood memories in the McCann family home:
“It’s quite disturbing that she’s coming up with these supposed memories, even though she’s not Madeleine.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘IT PUT A LOT OF STRESS ON ME’
“I felt quite uncomfortable. I didn’t want to receive messages about it — it put a lot of stress on me,”
Amelie said, describing her reaction to Wandelt’s repeated claims ⬇️
🔴 ‘THERE WAS A SOUND OF DESPERATION’
Amelie McCann told the jury:
“It was quite distressing to see the messages. There’s a sound of desperation in them.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I WAS USED TO IGNORING MESSAGES’
She added:
“I was used to getting messages from people about the case — not claiming to be Madeleine or anything — so I was used to ignoring them.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I THOUGHT I COULD DEAL WITH IT MYSELF’
Amelie McCann told the jury: “I thought it was something I could deal with myself. I didn’t want to add any extra stress to my parents or family, so I left it till later.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS STALKING’
Amelie told the jury she didn’t mention the messages until September:
“I wasn’t aware of the extent of her contact with my family, so I wouldn’t have thought it was a criminal offence or considered it stalking.” ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT ‘CLAIMED TO BE MADDIE’
The court heard Wandelt began sending messages to Amelie McCann from a social media account called ‘Julia Julia’ in January 2024, claiming to be Madeleine. ⬇️
🔴 AMELIE ‘MESSAGED ON SOCIAL MEDIA’
Amelie McCann told the court: “I knew of her before she contacted me. I think police had told my parents about it and maybe it was on the news. It started in January 2024 — she’d been messaging me on social media.” ⬇️
🔴 MADDIE’S SISTER AMELIE IN THE WITNESS BOX
Trial has begun with evidence from Amelie McCann, Madeleine’s younger sister.
Now 20, Amelie is giving evidence via video link — wearing a black & pink polka-dot top — as the courtroom falls silent to hear her account ⬇️
🔴 TRIAL TO RESUME AT LEICESTER CROWN COURT
Day three of the stalking trial is set to begin. Yesterday both Kate & Gerry McCann gave emotional evidence — with Gerry describing his distress over messages sent to daughter Amelie. Evidence from the McCann children expected next ⬇️
——————————————
🔴 DAY 3 - PM: LIVE FROM COURT UPDATES:
🔴 COURT ADJOURNS FOR THE DAY
Leicester Crown Court has risen for the day. Proceedings in the Wandelt & Spragg stalking trial will resume tomorrow at 10:15 BST.
Stay with UK Courts Live for full coverage ⬇️
🔴 GERRY FINISHES GIVING EVIDENCE
He told jurors he wanted to protect his children from the “horrible things” written about the family online.
“As a parent you try & protect your children… the nasty stuff online, obviously we want to protect them from that.” ⬇️
🔴 RELIEF AT NOT BEING CONFRONTED AT VIGIL
Speaking about last year’s vigil, he said:
“It was mixed feelings — but absolute relief at not being confronted in public by her. Any confrontation would have been reported by the media, and we didn’t want that.”⬇️
🔴 GERRY TELLS COURT HE MADE IT CLEAR CALLS WERE UNWANTED
“Kate was upset. I was getting frustrated & angry. I picked up the phone & said, ‘You’re not Madeleine, please stop calling,’ then hung up quickly. I made it very clear these were unwanted calls.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘YOU’RE NOT MADELEINE — PLEASE STOP CALLING’
Gerry McCann told the court how frustration & anger finally made him answer one of the repeated calls to their home ⬇️
🔴 INVESTIGATORS DID NOT REQUEST DNA TEST
“And thirdly,” he said, “it isn’t our responsibility to do a DNA test — that’s a matter for the investigating forces.”
Gerry added that Wandelt had supporters pushing her false claims, “which we knew not to be true.”
🔴 GERRY EXPLAINS DNA REFUSAL
“First of all, we did not believe she was Madeleine,” Gerry told jurors.
“Secondly, we were reassured by the Metropolitan Police that, after inquiries in Poland, she was definitely not Madeleine.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘THREE REASONS WE DIDN’T DO A DNA TEST’
Gerry McCann tells the court there were three clear reasons why he & Kate refused the DNA test demanded by Julia Wandelt ⬇️
🔴 ‘YOU WONDER WHAT ELSE CAN HAPPEN’
“There was no violence threatened,” Gerry said, “but you do wonder what else can happen — whether this could turn into something worse. Everyone in the world knows how to find us.”
🔴 ‘EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE HOME, YOU WONDER IF SOMEONE’S THERE’
Gerry said the alleged stalking affected them “virtually every day”. “You’re driving home & you’re worried — every time you arrive, you wonder if someone’s waiting there.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘IT DAMAGED THE SEARCH’
Gerry said Wandelt’s claims had a “wider effect”. “It damages the search for Madeleine — it creates noise, distraction, false hope. Every false claim ripples out & hurts.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘IT INEVITABLY PULLS YOUR HEARTSTRINGS’
Gerry added: “When people claim to be your daughter, it inevitably pulls your heartstrings. It has many effects — emotional, personal, and wider. It makes everything harder.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘WHEN PEOPLE CLAIM TO BE YOUR DAUGHTER, IT PULLS YOUR HEARTSTRINGS’
Gerry McCann told jurors: “We know she’s not our daughter. We don’t know what happened to Madeleine — there’s no evidence she’s dead. We hope, even if it’s only a glimmer, that she’s alive.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘THEY KEPT BANGING & SHOUTING’
“When I got inside, I pulled the curtains over the door & went straight into the kitchen to see Kate,” Gerry told the jury.
“They kept banging on the door for about 10 or 15 minutes. Kate felt frightened.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘THEY TRIED TO FORCE PAPERS ON ME’
“They kept trying to force information on me — whatever Julia had in her left hand,” he said. “I was trying to get inside the house & they were making it a little bit difficult, Julia in particular, by forcing the paper in front of me.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘SHE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A COVER-UP’
Gerry continued: “The other woman said something about a cover-up & accused me of being a member of the Masons. I was pretty astounded. I didn’t know much about the Masons — I didn’t even know if they let Catholics in.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘SHE ACCUSED ME OF BEING A MASON’
Gerry McCann told jurors he was confronted outside his home by the defendants.
“She had some papers in her left hand & a phone in her right,” he said. “The other woman walked quite close to me during the incident.” ⬇️
🔴 WARNING CALL FROM KATE
“It was a warning call to say Julia and another woman were outside the property. Julia had accosted her outside,” Gerry told jurors, recalling the frightening encounter. ⬇️
🔴 KATE VERY DISTRESSED DURING VISIT
Gerry McCann described the December incident outside their home: “Kate called me — she was very distressed. When I arrived, I saw a small white car and two women on the drive, one looking like Julia.” ⬇️
🔴 PROTECTING THEIR CHILDREN
“As a parent you want to protect your children. We know social media can be damaging and there is nasty stuff online — we obviously want to shield them from that,” Gerry told jurors ⬇️
🔴 ‘APPALLED’ MESSAGES SENT TO AMELIE
Gerry McCann became emotional describing messages Wandelt allegedly sent to his daughter: “We had done our best to protect Sean and Amelie… we try to keep them out of the media as much as possible.” ⬇️
🔴 CLEARLY UNWANTED CALLS
“I took the phone and said, ‘You’re not Madeleine, please stop calling’,” Gerry added. “We made it very clear these were unwanted calls.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘IT WAS PRETTY HORRIBLE’
Gerry McCann told jurors about the effect on the family: “On one occasion Kate was upset, I was frustrated and angry. The phone went off while I was in the kitchen.” ⬇️
🔴 REPEATED CALLS & MESSAGES
He added: “They were often from a no-caller ID, just ring and ring and ring, messages from WhatsApp saying she was Madeleine.” ⬇️
🔴 GERRY BREAKS DOWN IN COURT
Maddie’s dad told jurors about the toll on his family: “Kate’s phone was going off continuously, one after another… she was obviously very distressed and struggling to concentrate.” ⬇️
🔴 GERRY CONFIDENT PHOTO WASN’T MADELEINE
Gerry said both he and Kate looked at the photo separately: “We were very confident she wasn’t Madeleine. I looked at it independently and was sure it wasn’t her.” ⬇️
🔴 MET POLICE CONTACT THE MCCANNS OVER CLAIM
Gerry told jurors that the first contact about Wandelt came via Roger, the Met Police family liaison officer: “He sent us a photo of the girl claiming to be Madeleine.” ⬇️
🔴 TRIAL RESUMES: GERRY MCCANN TAKES THE STAND
Maddie’s father is now giving evidence behind a curtain at Leicester Crown Court ⬇️
——————————————
🔴 DAY 3 - AM: LIVE FROM COURT UPDATES:
🔴 COURT ADJOURNS FOR LUNCH
The hearing pauses for a break. Proceedings will resume this afternoon ⬇️
🔴 CRIMINAL TRIAL FOCUS
The court must weigh Wandelt’s claim she genuinely believed she was Madeleine against the impact on the McCanns. Calling Kate “mum” was part of the behaviour under examination ⬇️
🔴 KATE ON WANDLT’S CLAIMS: A TINY NIGGLE
Asked about Wandelt saying she was Madeleine and demanding a DNA test, Kate told jurors: “A little bit of my brain was saying ‘what if?’… But having seen a photo, she’s Polish, none of it makes sense. It was a tiny niggle.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘FEW PEOPLE HAVE CLAIMED TO BE MADELEINE’
Asked how many others had contacted her claiming to be Madeleine, Kate told jurors: “Not many. Maybe single figures.” ⬇️
🔴 KATE NOW CROSS-EXAMINED BY SPRAGG’S COUNSEL
Simon Russell Flint KC is questioning Kate McCann, laying the groundwork for the defence’s case & highlighting context for the jury ⬇️
🔴 FREQUENT BUT SPORADIC VISITS
Kate added: “Sometimes we had journalists or people claiming to have information. It’s been over 18 years — frequent back then, less so now, just sporadically.” ⬇️
🔴 OTHERS HAVE TURNED UP AT McCAN HOME
Under cross-examination, Kate told jurors strangers have come to her home before: “I remember someone sitting on the floor outside the front door… I just told her to go to the police.” ⬇️
🔴 CROSS-EXAMINATION BEGINS
Kate McCann is now being questioned by Julia Wandelt’s barrister, Tom Price KC. The jury will hear challenges to her evidence as the defence begins its case for the first time. ⬇️
🔴 KATE PROTECTS YOUNGER CHILDREN
Asked about Wandelt’s contact with Maddie’s siblings, Kate told jurors: “I don’t want them to have any media attention. They’ve already had to deal with a lot — I want that kept to a minimum.” ⬇️
🔴 KATE ON IMPACT OF STALKING
Kate told jurors: “It was like it escalated… the level of stress and anxiety it caused. When the phone rings, driving home from work, checking who is there — it never stops.” ⬇️
🔴 WANDLT SOBBING UNCONTROLLABLY
As Kate finished her evidence, Julia Wandelt began sobbing in the dock, screaming:
“Why are you doing this to me?”
She was led out through the back of the court ⬇️
🔴 KATE ON WANDLT’S BEHAVIOUR
Referring to Julia Wandelt, Kate told jurors: “I always thought her behaviour indicated she had mental health problems.” ⬇️
🔴 NO TRUTH TO CLAIMS ABOUT GERRY
Asked by the prosecution about Wandelt’s allegations that Gerry is “controlling”, Kate told the court: “None at all.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘WANDLT CALLING ME MUM IS HARD’
Kate told jurors she received a letter from Wandelt signed “Madeleine x” the day after the visit. “Referring to me as her mum is hard,” she said, describing the distress it caused ⬇️
🔴 DOOR CONFRONTATION
Kate told jurors: “They followed me as I tried to close the door. Julia was putting her hands out to stop me. I managed to close and lock it, but they kept banging on the door.” ⬇️
🔴 SPRAGG MORE AGGRESSIVE, KATE TELLS JURY
Kate McCann described how Karen Spragg pressed her: “She was slightly more aggressive… ‘Don’t you want to find your daughter?’ I asked them to leave — I was in distress.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘SHE CALLED ME MUM’
Kate told jurors Wandelt said: “I’m your daughter”, asked for a DNA test & pleaded with her. Kate said: “When I realised who it was, I was quite distressed.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I REALISED IT WAS JULIA’
Kate said: “There were two women… and finally I realised it was Julia. I’d seen her photo before — she was quite vivid in my mind from all the previous messages.” ⬇️
🔴 KATE CONFRONTED OUTSIDE HER HOME
Kate McCann described to the court the shock of being approached by two women who had travelled to her home uninvited : “I got a fright — I felt quite invaded, in my own home.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I KNEW SOMEONE WAS BEHIND ME’
Kate recalled the moment Wandelt and Spragg appeared outside her home: “I was getting stuff out of the boot when I heard someone call ‘Kate’. I knew it was someone behind me — but I didn’t know who. I got a fright.” ⬇️
🔴 WANDLET SOBBING IN THE DOCK
As Kate described the emotional toll of Wandelt’s behaviour, the defendant began crying in the dock, visibly breaking down during the testimony. ⬇️
🔴 ‘I WANTED TO TAKE A DNA TEST JUST TO PUT IT TO BED’
Kate told jurors she briefly considered agreeing to Wandelt’s request: “The persistence started getting to me… I wanted to take a DNA test just to put it to bed — even though I knew it wasn’t her.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘I’M NOT A LIAR, I’M NOT CRAZY’
Jurors heard a voicemail Wandelt allegedly left on Kate’s phone, saying: “Don’t give up on your daughter. I’m not a liar, I’m not crazy — I just want to know the truth. Please don’t reject me.” ⬇️
🔴 KATE: ‘I DIDN’T WANT TO ENGAGE’
Asked if she ever replied to Wandelt’s messages, Kate told jurors: “No, I didn’t. I didn’t want to engage.” ⬇️
🔴 ‘TOTALLY RELIEVED WE WEREN’T THERE’
Kate told jurors she was glad to have missed the event: “It’s a hard experience anyway — I’d have been really upset and it would’ve taken away from the reason we were there” ⬇️
🔴 RELIEF THAT INITIAL ATTEMPT TO CONFRONT KATE & GERRY FAILED
Jurors heard how a confrontation was planned as Wandelt travelled to the McCanns’ village hoping to meet them at the annual vigil — but the couple weren’t there that year ⬇️
🔴 ‘FINAL STRAW’ FOR KATE
Kate says she went to police after hearing how daughter Amelie had been contacted: “That was the final straw — I don’t want Amelie or Sean involved” ⬇️
🔴 “CLEARLY NOT MADELEINE”
Kate tells jurors that when she first saw a photo of Julia Wandelt early last year, “it was clear it was not Madeleine” ⬇️
🔴 KATE: “WE AVOID SOCIAL MEDIA”
Asked about online activity, Kate says: “After Madeleine was taken we decided to avoid all things like that.
People make us aware of things on there, but we stay away — it doesn’t help” ⬇️
🔴 ‘FIND MADELEINE’ GROUP
Kate explains how supporters formed an online campaign after Madeleine vanished.
“a group of people who we did not know set up an organisation called Find Madeleine. A subset of those people went on to help us with the campaign & website” ⬇️
🔴 KATE MCCANN: “I FIRST HEARD OF WANDELT THREE YEARS AGO”
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC begins questioning. Kate tells the jury she first became aware of Julia Wandelt “about three years ago” — after a call was made to the hospital switchboard where she & Gerry work ⬇️
🔴 UNDER OATH
Kate McCann has just taken the oath as she begins her evidence. The judge has asked her to keep her voice raised so the court can hear clearly ⬇️
🔴 KATE MCCANN TAKES THE STAND
Madeleine’s mum Kate McCann is giving evidence this morning. She is shielded from the defendants, press & public by a blue curtain — only the jury, judge & barristers can see her ⬇️
🔴 DAY TWO – PROSECUTION CALLS ON KATE MCCANN
The trial of Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg resumes this morning at Leicester Crown Court. With the prosecution’s opening now complete, the jury will begin hearing from witnesses — starting with Kate McCann ⬇️
🔴 DAY 3 - MORNING SESSION
Julia Wandelt is back in the dock as the trial resumes. The jury is seated & ready to hear evidence in the alleged McCann stalking case ⬇️
——————————————
🔴 DAY 2: LIVE FROM COURT UPDATES:
🔴 TRIAL ADJOURNS
Tuesday’s hearing ends. Proceedings resume Wednesday at 10:15 BST — follow UK Courts live for updates on this high-profile case ⬇️
🔴 BELIEFS DON’T GIVE RIGHTS
Mr Duck KC told the jury: “Whatever they suggest are their beliefs, they do not afford someone the right to lie in wait for their targets outside their own home” ⬇️
🔴 LETTER ATTEMPTED TO BE HANDED TO GERRY MCCANN
Prosecutor says the pair “tried to force a letter” into Mr McCann’s hand — ignoring Mrs McCann’s warnings to leave the property ⬇️
🔴 THEY KNEW THEIR ACTIONS CAUSED DISTRESS
Court hears Kate McCann was “unnerved” when Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg waited outside her home, banging on the door and confronting her ⬇️
🔴 “THEY KNEW THE DISTRESS THEY WOULD CAUSE”
Prosecutor highlighted the defendants were aware of the emotional impact on the McCanns — showing the deliberate nature of their actions ⬇️
🔴 NECESSARY INTERVENTION BY POLICE
Mr Duck told the jury that without police intervention on 19 February, the behaviour “all would have continued” ⬇️
🔴 SPRAGG MORE FORTHCOMING
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC said Spragg admitted to “confronting” the McCanns — revealing a more open acknowledgment of their actions ⬇️
🔴 DENIAL OF HARM
Wandelt denied any intention to harm the McCanns, court told ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT GOES “NO COMMENT”
During police interviews, Wandelt mostly answered “no comment”, claiming all she was doing was requesting a DNA test ⬇️
🔴 SPRAGG’S ANXIOUS MESSAGES
Prosecutor says Spragg sent messages asking about Wandelt’s whereabouts before her arrest, showing how closely the pair coordinated ⬇️
🔴 SPRAGG ARRESTED TOO
Spragg was arrested at the airport while waiting in her car for Wandelt — highlighting the coordinated nature of their attempts to reach the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 ARREST AT BRISTOL AIRPORT
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC told the jury Wandelt was arrested in February after flying to the UK to confront the McCanns again ⬇️
🔴 PLEA FOR CONTACT
Wandelt’s message asked Kate to get in touch, again attempting to assert her claim of being Madeleine, court told ⬇️
🔴 DAYS BEFORE ARREST
Just days prior to her arrest, Wandelt allegedly messaged Kate: “I know you’re my real Mummy. Help me please. I know Gerry is controlling and you’re probably scared of him…” ⬇️
🔴 ATTEMPTED SELF-JUSTIFICATION
Prosecutor added Wandelt saw her actions as being “protected,” despite multiple reports to police, highlighting the disconnect between her perception and reality ⬇️
🔴 “SHE KNEW HOW SERIOUS IT WAS”
Mr Duck KC told the jury Wandelt recognised the reality of her behaviour and its legal implications ⬇️
🔴 WARNINGS IGNORED
In one message, Wandelt told Mrs McCann she could “go to the police” or “get a restraining order” — showing awareness of the seriousness ⬇️
🔴 MESSAGING ASSOCIATES
Prosecutor says Wandelt began contacting McCann family friends and associates, including David Payne, in further attempts to make contact ⬇️
🔴 RECOGNISES THE REALITY OF HER BEHAVIOUR
Court hears that after a failed WhatsApp attempt to contact Kate McCann, the pair continued planning Wandelt’s return to the UK ⬇️
🔴 “OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT PEOPLE”
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC reminded the jury the two were “obviously different people,” highlighting the unreality of Wandelt’s claims ⬇️
🔴 “YES LOOKS SAME CHILD”
Spragg commented on the images: “Yes looks same child” — despite the obvious differences, court told ⬇️
🔴 EXCHANGING PHOTOS
The pair allegedly exchanged images of Wandelt placed next to photos of Madeleine, comparing the two ⬇️
🔴 YEARLY VIGIL IN ROTHLEY
Prosecutor tells jury one planned trip targeted the annual vigil for Madeleine in the McCanns’ home village ⬇️
🔴 FUTURE TRIPS TO THE UK
Court hears Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg discussed two potential trips to the UK in February & May, including another attempt to approach the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 “HOW DO YOU KNOW WITHOUT DNA?”
Mrs Spragg can be heard questioning Mr McCann, while he repeatedly tells the pair to leave: “I don’t know what your investment is… no we’re not having a discussion” ⬇️
🔴 “I DON’T WANT THIS, PLEASE LEAVE”
In continued attempts to contact the couple, court hears audio of Gerry McCann returning home and being confronted by Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg — raised voices captured during the encounter ⬇️
🔴 “STARK CONTRAST TO REALITY”
Prosecutor said the audio revealed a “stark contrast” — Mrs McCann sounded plainly distressed, far removed from the version Wandelt later tried to portray ⬇️
🔴 AUDIO PLAYED TO THE COURT
Jurors heard a recording made by Julia Wandelt the night she & Karen Spragg confronted Kate McCann on her doorstep — capturing raised voices & confusion ⬇️
🔴 “A VERY CRUEL ACCUSATION”
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC told the jury the claim was “a very cruel” accusation to make and confirmed “none of the information can, of course, be true” ⬇️
🔴 “INJECTED WITH SOMETHING”
Wandelt told officers she was paralysed by an injection, saw her abductor through a window, and described him as tanned, dark-haired & slim — adding she “prefers not to go into details” yet ⬇️
🔴 FABRICATED DETAILS OF ABDUCTION
She allegedly said: “Someone gave me to the person who took me… before it happened I remember being abused by one man… a few other people were there too” ⬇️
🔴 WANDLT CLAIMS MEMORIES OF ABDUCTION
Court hears Julia Wandelt told police in Leicester she remembered the night she was abducted in Portugal — describing the event in disturbing detail ⬇️
🔴 CLAIMS ABOUT THE MCCANNS
She allegedly told officers the McCanns “might have been involved in the planned kidnapping & abduction” — citing their “lack of empathy” as a reason ⬇️
🔴 “CLEAR MEMORIES OF HER ABDUCTION”
Court hears Julia Wandelt told police she remembered being taken in May 2007, claiming “someone gave me to the person who took me” ⬇️
🔴 SIGNED “MADELEINE”
Wandelt wrote: “I think you are scared, but whatever makes you scared, remember that you are stronger than that” — signing off simply as Madeleine ⬇️
🔴 “I FELT A CLOSE CONNECTION TO YOU”
In the letter, Wandelt apologised for “causing distress”, saying she felt a strong emotional bond & couldn’t understand why Mrs McCann refused a DNA test ⬇️
🔴 “I THINK YOU ARE SCARED”
Court hears letter Julia Wandelt posted to Kate McCann after the confrontation — addressed to her as “mum” & signed “Madeleine” ⬇️
🔴 LETTER POSTED THROUGH THE DOOR
After leaving the scene, the pair allegedly returned the next day and posted a letter through the McCanns’ front door — after their earlier confrontation failed ⬇️
🔴 SHOUTING AT GERRY MCCANN
When Mr McCann arrived, the defendants allegedly shouted at him and tried to force a letter into his hand — behaviour the prosecutor said was “very similar” from both ⬇️
🔴 “BANGS AT THE FRONT DOOR”
As Mrs McCann went inside and tried to shut the door, Wandelt attempted to stop her closing it. Upset, she phoned her husband as she “heard bangs” at the door ⬇️
🔴 KATE MCCANN “ACCOSTED” OUTSIDE HER HOME
When Mrs McCann returned, Wandelt allegedly confronted her — demanding a DNA test. Spragg stood nearby, her behaviour leaving Mrs McCann “unnerved”, court told ⬇️
🔴 “SAT OUTSIDE WITH LIGHTS OFF”
A WhatsApp message from Spragg to a third party read: “We are sat outside the McCanns’ home waiting for them to come home. We are sat with car lights out.” ⬇️
🔴 DEFENDANTS TRAVEL TO ROTHLEY
Court hears CCTV captured Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg leaving their hotel in Birstall and moving towards the village of Rothley, Leicestershire ⬇️
🔴 “GOING TO THE MCCANNS’ HOUSE DIRECTLY”
Prosecutor says the pair checked into a hotel in Birstall, Leicestershire — with plans to travel straight to the McCanns’ home the next day ⬇️
🔴 DEFENDANT RETURNED TO THE UK
Court hears Julia Wandelt flew back to the UK in November 2024, landing at East Midlands Airport where she was met by co-accused Karen Spragg ⬇️
🔴 DAILY CONTACT & SHARED INTENT
Spragg’s “daily and concentrated interest” in Wandelt’s welfare and the investigation showed how closely the two were now working together, court told ⬇️
🔴 “WE COULD GO THROUGH THEIR BINS”
Court shown messages between Wandelt & Spragg discussing how to “get their DNA” — with Spragg replying, “Yeah, we could go through their bins LOL” ⬇️
🔴 “IF KATE WAS ALONE AT HOME”
Court hears messages suggesting the pair saw Gerry McCann as a “gatekeeper” — believing Kate might talk if she were alone, showing how undeterred they’d become ⬇️
🔴 “OPERATING AS A TEAM”
Prosecutor says the pair were “willing to go to extraordinary lengths”, working together & planning a “fairly dramatic” act to push their agenda ⬇️
🔴 “EVERYONE KNOWS THE MCCANNS ARE GUILTY”
Prosecutor says Spragg messaged investigators alleging “a massive cover-up” — repeating conspiracy claims “despite evidence to the contrary” ⬇️
🔴 “JULIA IS NOT GOING AWAY”
Spragg told officers they were “silencing everyone” & claimed Wandelt “is not lying and has done a DNA test”, the court heard ⬇️
🔴 MESSAGES TO OPERATION GRANGE DETECTIVES
Court hears Karen Spragg sent messages to Madeleine McCann investigators accusing them of a “cover-up” & insisting “the truth will come out” ⬇️
🔴 “I DON’T THINK THEY WANT ME TO CONTACT HER”
Court hears Wandelt emailed McCann family friend David Payne, claiming “I truly believe I could be her daughter, Madeleine” — a “masterpiece of understatement”, prosecutor says ⬇️
🔴 EMAIL FOLLOWED THE CALL
Wandelt allegedly followed up the phone call with an email — attempting to “emotionally manipulate” Mr Payne with what she called “compelling evidence” ⬇️
🔴 “TRYING TO HUMOUR HER”
Mr Payne answered one call from Wandelt but, prosecutors said, appeared to humour her only to end the conversation ⬇️
🔴 CALLS TO MCCANN FAMILY FRIENDS
Court hears the pair extended contact to David Payne & his wife — who were with the McCanns on the night Madeleine disappeared ⬇️
🔴 “THE NET WAS SPREAD WIDER”
Prosecutor tells jury the pair began working “as a team”, with Spragg now actively involved in contacting the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 SUPPORTER OF CONSPIRACY THEORY
Prosecutor tells jury Spragg believed Madeleine’s parents were responsible for her disappearance — “despite unequivocal evidence to the contrary” ⬇️
🔴 CO-ACCUSED TAKES CENTRE STAGE
Court hears Karen Spragg was in close contact with Julia Wandelt during 2024, supporting her claims and actions in the case ⬇️
🔴 “I WON’T GIVE UP MY CLAIM”
Wandelt allegedly told police she would not give up, even recording the warning conversation — despite being told to stop approaching the McCanns ⬇️
🔴 WARNED TO STOP CONTACTING FAMILY
An officer from the Madeleine McCann investigation spoke to Wandelt on 18 June 2024, telling her in clear terms she was not Madeleine & must stop ⬇️
🔴 DNA SAMPLE DESTROYED
After checks with Operation Grange, police confirmed there was no prospect Wandelt was Madeleine. The precautionary DNA sample was destroyed ⬇️
🔴 “I AM MADELEINE MCCANN”
Court hears Julia Wandelt walked into Charing Cross police station & claimed she was Madeleine — prompting officers to take a DNA sample ⬇️
🔴 VISIT TO MCCANNS’ HOME ADDRESS
The next day, Wandelt allegedly went to the McCanns’ Rothley home — continuing efforts to make contact despite repeated refusals, court told ⬇️
🔴 LETTER HANDED TO FAMILY MEMBER
At the vigil, Wandelt approached the village priest & Kate McCann’s great-aunt, pleading to speak with the family & handing over a letter ⬇️
🔴 ‘THE LAST APPROACH ANY PARENTS WOULD WANT’
Prosecutor tells jury Wandelt came to the vigil hoping to meet the McCanns — after months of calls & online messages went unanswered ⬇️
🔴 DEFENDANT TRAVELLED TO UK FOR VIGIL
Court hears Julia Wandelt escalate her behaviour as she flew from Poland to the village of Rothley, Leicestershire, to attend a vigil marking Madeleine McCann’s disappearance ⬇️
🔴 DEFENDANT REPORTED TO POLICE
Court hears Kate McCann alerted Operation Grange officers after Wandelt’s repeated messages — but “her behaviour did not stop”, prosecutor says ⬇️
🔴 MESSAGES TO MADELEINE’S SISTER
Wandelt allegedly urged Amelie McCann to convince her parents to talk — despite knowing “the stress it was causing”, court told ⬇️
🔴 ‘FRUSTRATED BY LACK OF INTERACTION’
Court hears Julia Wandelt kept texting & calling Kate McCann — then turned her focus to Madeleine’s sister, urging her to intervene ⬇️
🔴 “PURSUED FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO COMMUNICATE”
Prosecutor says Wandelt continued bombarding Kate McCann with messages & voicemails — undeterred by hundreds of rejections ⬇️
🔴 DEFENDANTS SIT APART AFTER HOLDING HANDS
Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg are seated a space apart in the dock today — after being seen holding hands during yesterday’s hearing at Leicester Crown Court ⬇️
🔴 DAY 2 – PM CASE RESTARTS:
Apologies Court proceedings were delayed this morning due to various behind-the-scenes legal preambles. The case is now back in session – stay-tuned to @UKCourtsLive updates coming your way now ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT BROKE DOWN IN COURT FACED WITH UPCOMING EVIDENCE
Yesterday the court was told they would hear evidence that categorically proves Wandelt has no relation to the McCanns. On hearing this, she burst into sobbing & attempted to flee the dock ⬇️
🔴 OVER 60 CALLS IN ONE DAY
Yesterday we heard how Wandelt bombarded Kate McCann with over 60 calls and messages in a single day — undeterred by repeated refusals ⬇️
🔴 TRIAL RESTARTS AT LEICESTER CROWN COURT
Day two of the trial of Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg resumes today in Court Two before Mrs Justice Cutts, as proceedings continue in the high-profile case ⬇️
🔴 DEFENDANTS ENTER COURT FOR TRIAL
Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg arrive at Leicester Crown Court for the alleged McCann stalking case ⬇️
🔴 DAY 1: LIVE FROM COURT UPDATES:
🔴 HEARING ADJOURNED
Trial adjourned, to resume tomorrow after Wandelt’s alleged memory claims were heard ⬇️
🔴 HYPNOSIS FLASHBACKS CITED
Wandelt claimed hypnosis memories, including feeding Madeleine’s brother, to support her case ⬇️
🔴 EMAIL TO GERRY MCCANN
Wandelt emailed Gerry, citing scars and marks, pleading to be considered their daughter ⬇️
🔴 PLEA TO KATE MCCANN
Voicemail to Kate offered proof, asking for a chance despite Polish accent and appearance ⬇️
🔴 DISTRESS TO MCCANNS CITED
Duck claims their behaviour caused “significant harm and distress” to the McCann family ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT SOBS IN DOCK
Wandelt cried and moved to the back of the dock as trial began ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT NOT MADELEINE
Duck clarifies “Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann,” with scientific evidence showing no familial link ⬇️
🔴 JURY SENT OUT BRIEFLY
Judge Mrs Justice Cutts halted proceedings, ordering the jury out before resuming after a break ⬇️
🔴 ALTERED IMAGES SENT TO AMELIE
Wandelt sent digitally-altered images to Madeleine’s sister Amelie to suggest a relation ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT’S FALSE CLAIMS
From June 2022, Wandelt tried to convince others she was Madeleine, claiming abduction to Poland ⬇️
🔴 CONSPIRACY THEORIES ALLEGED
Duck says Wandelt and Spragg perpetuated theories, exploiting the McCanns’ publicity plight ⬇️
🔴 AGE DISCREPANCY NOTED
Wandelt’s age at Madeleine’s 2007 disappearance rules out her claim, Duck argues ⬇️
🔴 OVER 60 CALLS IN ONE DAY
Wandelt called and messaged Kate McCann over 60 times in a day, undeterred by refusal ⬇️
🔴 EMOTIONAL MESSAGE TO AMELIE
Wandelt begged Amelie to believe her, citing memories of family life and offering a DNA test ⬇️
🔴 WICKED PROPOSITION CLAIMED
Duck calls Wandelt’s message about hugging and a pink teddy bear a “particularly wicked proposition” ⬇️
🔴 INITIAL MISSING GIRL CLAIM
Wandelt first contacted a charity claiming to be Inga Gehricke, not Madeleine, due to age issues ⬇️
🔴 WANDELT ALLEGED CAMPAIGN
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC says Wandelt, from Poland, harassed the McCanns for nearly three years via emails, calls, and home visits ⬇️
🔴 PAIR ACCUSED OF STALKING MCCANNS
Julia Wandelt, 24, and Karen Spragg, 61, on trial at Leicester Crown Court for stalking Kate and Gerry McCann ⬇️
🔴 DEFENDANTS IN COURT
Polish citizen Julia Wandelt, wearing black leggings and white jumper, and co-accused Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, are in court and the trial is set to begin.
