In a case that’s gripped the public imagination and reopened old wounds for a family long in the spotlight, Julia Wandelt—a 24-year-old Polish woman—was found guilty last Friday of harassing the parents of Madeleine McCann, the British girl who disappeared in Portugal in 2007. The verdict, delivered at Leicester Crown Court by Justice Johannah Cutts, concluded a two-year campaign during which Wandelt repeatedly claimed to be the missing child, despite conclusive DNA evidence to the contrary.
Wandelt’s campaign began in 2022, when she first reached out to Kate and Gerry McCann, Madeleine’s parents, through Glenfield Hospital, where the couple worked, and via the Metropolitan Police’s ongoing investigation into their daughter’s disappearance. According to BBC News, she later escalated her efforts, bombarding the McCanns with more than 60 calls and messages in a single day, contacting their twins Sean and Amelie over social media, and even reaching out to family friends and associates—including the family’s parish priest.
Her actions culminated in December 2024, when Wandelt traveled from Poland to England, appeared at the McCann family’s home, and confronted Kate McCann on her driveway, pleading for a DNA test. The encounter left Mrs. McCann feeling “invaded in her own home,” as she testified in court. Gerry McCann, arriving home shortly after, told the court, “It brings back a lot of horrible memories of when the media was camped outside our house.”
Wandelt’s campaign wasn’t limited to private communications. She maintained a high public profile, sharing side-by-side photos on social media that purportedly showed physical similarities between her and Madeleine. Her story gained viral attention, leading to appearances on international media, including the U.S. show Dr Phil. According to Global News, Wandelt’s own parents and Polish police publicly disputed her claims, expressing devastation at the worldwide attention the saga had attracted.
Despite her persistence, forensic experts testified unequivocally that Wandelt could not be Madeleine McCann. DNA tests conducted after her arrest in February 2025 “conclusively proved” she was not the missing child, the court heard. Still, under cross-examination, Wandelt insisted she was “50-50” about her identity and demanded to see the “entire paperwork” of the DNA analysis. “I do believe I’m her,” she told the court. “I do remember them but I’m exhausted, I’m completely exhausted with all of this.”
The jury found Wandelt guilty of harassment but cleared her of the more serious charge of stalking. Justice Cutts, in her sentencing remarks, acknowledged Wandelt’s troubled upbringing and history of abuse, as reported by BBC News and Global News. “I accept you did not have an easy childhood,” she told Wandelt. “But that does not justify the way you behaved. It has been confirmed in this case you are not Madeleine McCann. There was not proper or logical basis for this.”
The judge continued, “Your constant pestering, badgering and, eventually, attendance at their home address on a dark evening in December was unwarranted.” She noted the distress caused to both McCanns, particularly Kate, and emphasized that the family “were entitled to leave matters with the police and refuse to engage with you particularly in the sad circumstances they live.”
Wandelt was sentenced to six months in prison, a term she has already served since her February arrest. A restraining order was imposed, banning her indefinitely from contacting the McCanns, visiting Leicestershire, or publishing any broadcast concerning the family. Her phones are to be forfeited and destroyed. The court also heard that Wandelt had previously claimed to be two other missing children before asserting she was Madeleine, raising further questions about her motivations and mental state.
Karen Spragg, a 61-year-old woman from Cardiff who befriended Wandelt online and supported her claims, was also on trial. Spragg was acquitted of all charges but received a five-year restraining order preventing her from contacting the McCanns or discussing them publicly. Justice Cutts described Spragg as someone who “saw Wandelt as the victim and not the McCanns,” adding that she had “supported her while indulging in her conspiracy theories.” The court heard that the two women had exchanged jokes about going through the McCanns’ bins and stealing cutlery from a restaurant in pursuit of DNA evidence.
Throughout the trial, the McCanns remained dignified, expressing neither anger nor vindication. In a statement following the verdict, they said, “Despite the jury’s guilty verdict of harassment, we take no pleasure in the result. We hope Ms Wandelt will receive the appropriate care and support she needs and any vulnerability will not be exploited by others. We only wanted the harassment to stop.” They reiterated their ongoing commitment to finding their daughter, stating, “If anyone has new evidence relating to Madeleine’s disappearance, please pass this on to the police.”
Madeleine McCann disappeared from her bed at the Praia da Luz resort in southern Portugal on May 3, 2007, when she was just three years old. The case has never been solved, and the family marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance earlier this year, vowing that their “determination to leave no stone unturned is unwavering.”
The case’s emotional gravity was underscored by recent developments in the original investigation. The main suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance, Christian Bruckner, was released from a German prison in September 2025 after serving a sentence for an unrelated rape conviction. Police investigations at the Portuguese resort continued over the summer, but no new breakthroughs have been announced.
As for Wandelt, her future remains uncertain. After her sentencing, she was transported to prison in a van, while immigration authorities consider whether she will be deported to Poland. Britain’s secretary of state will make the final decision regarding her custody status.
Wandelt’s saga, while distressing for the McCanns, has also highlighted the enduring pain and public scrutiny faced by families of missing persons. As the McCanns continue their search for answers, they—and the world—are once again reminded of the deep scars left by Madeleine’s disappearance, and the ongoing challenges of living in the public eye.
