In a courtroom drama that has gripped both the UK and international audiences, Julia Wandelt—a 24-year-old Polish national from Lubin—stood trial at Leicester Crown Court this week, accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of missing British child Madeleine McCann. The highly publicized proceedings, which unfolded on October 30, 2025, have brought renewed attention to the enduring mystery of Madeleine’s disappearance and the emotional toll it continues to exact on her family.
The case centers on Wandelt’s persistent and controversial claim: she believes she is Madeleine McCann, the little girl who vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007 at the age of three. Over a period spanning from June 2022 to February 2025, prosecutors allege Wandelt sent a barrage of emails, made repeated phone calls, left voicemails, and even turned up at the McCanns’ home in the UK, all in an effort to convince them—and the world—of her identity.
According to BBC, the jury heard that Wandelt’s campaign included attending the 17th Anniversary Vigil for Madeleine in Rothley, Leicestershire, on May 3, 2024. Despite her efforts, she was unable to deliver a letter directly to the McCanns, as they were not present at the event. Wandelt later left a handwritten note on their doorstep, asking for a DNA test to settle the matter once and for all. She also passed a letter to Mrs. McCann’s aunt and approached relatives and the village priest, further escalating the situation.
During her testimony, Wandelt broke down in tears, repeatedly insisting, “I do believe I’m her.” When cross-examined by prosecutor Michael Duck KC, she became visibly emotional, stating, “Actually, I don’t care anymore. If people here say I’m not, you know what, I’m OK with it. I’m just exhausted with it. I want to know who I am. If I’m not, I’m not. It’s fine. I’m exhausted.” Her exhaustion was palpable, as she described having “wasted three-and-a-half years of my life working out who I am.”
The prosecution, however, was unyielding. Duck KC told Wandelt, “One thing that’s blindingly obvious is that your [DNA] profile and Madeleine’s did not match.” He pressed her on whether she accepted that, by simply looking at the DNA profile, it had nothing to do with her. Wandelt conceded, “Assuming that this belongs to Madeleine, then yes.” The court heard that she had even used ChatGPT to compare her DNA with samples from the McCann case—a method she admitted was not scientifically valid. “I knew I had to treat anything with reservations. It is not a DNA expert,” she acknowledged.
Despite the lack of scientific evidence, Wandelt’s belief in her memories persisted. She questioned why Kate McCann had not disclosed more details about their contact: “If my memories are wrong, why did Kate McCann hide more contact she had with me when I explained my memories? She didn’t tell it in court. If I’m wrong, why did she hide the fact most of the voicemails were about my memories? If I’m wrong, why did she hide this part?” When asked directly if she was suggesting Mrs. McCann withheld information from the jury or the investigation, Wandelt replied, “Both.”
Wandelt’s actions went beyond digital communication. The court was told that on December 7, 2024, Wandelt and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, confronted the McCanns at their home. According to the prosecution, Mrs. McCann arrived home first, and Wandelt tried to stop her from entering the property. The pair allegedly continued to bang on the front door, attempting to force a letter into Gerry McCann’s hand when he arrived, prompting the family to call police. The prosecution described this as “the plainest of intrusions and the fear it caused was inevitable.”
Wandelt denied that the visit was intimidating, saying, “We didn’t want to cause any harm.” She also said she had told Spragg not to shout at Mrs. McCann during their encounter. Nevertheless, she agreed with the prosecutor that her actions could be seen as intimidating, particularly when combined with Spragg’s “verbally aggressive” behavior. Messages read out in court revealed the pair had planned the visit, with Spragg texting, “We have to make a stand. We’re not leaving until this gets looked at.”
Throughout the proceedings, Wandelt maintained that her intentions were genuine. She described feeling “ashamed” to have received around £400 from people who wanted to help her find out her identity. “I know what it looks like,” she admitted, acknowledging the suspicion her actions had aroused. She insisted she traveled to the UK to have her DNA officially compared to the crime scene DNA and to pursue legal action in family court if necessary.
When asked why she thought the McCanns did not respond to her repeated attempts at contact, Wandelt speculated, “Maybe they were not allowed to. I just could not believe, and still cannot believe, the parents of a missing child don’t want to follow a lead.” She expressed disbelief at the lack of engagement, stating, “At the end of the day, this is a person looking for their child, so I didn’t assume this contact was not wanted.”
Wandelt also admitted to sending an emotional message to Kate McCann, calling her “corrupted” and accusing her of never wanting to find Madeleine. She told the court she regretted sending the message, explaining it was written when she was “sad and emotional.”
Co-defendant Karen Spragg, who is also charged with one count of stalking, will not be called to give evidence in her defense, according to the jury. Both women deny the charges against them, and the trial is set to continue.
The McCanns, for their part, have described the distress and alarm caused by Wandelt’s actions. Kate McCann, giving evidence, spoke of her anguish at being stalked by a woman she knew to be an imposter, especially when the pain of Madeleine’s absence “still aches.” The family’s ordeal has been compounded by repeated public scrutiny and the relentless pursuit of false leads.
As the trial continues, the case raises complex questions about the intersection of personal trauma, public fascination, and the boundaries of acceptable behavior in the digital age. For the McCanns, the search for answers goes on, even as new chapters of their ordeal unfold in the glare of the courtroom.