On October 7, 2025, a courtroom in Leicester became the stage for a case that had transfixed the public and reignited painful memories for the family of Madeleine McCann, the British toddler who vanished from a Portuguese hotel in 2007. Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old woman from Poland, and her co-defendant, 61-year-old Karen Spragg, stood trial accused of stalking Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, in a campaign that spanned from June 2022 to February 2025. The trial, which is expected to last around five weeks, has revealed a disturbing pattern of harassment, conspiracy theories, and personal anguish for all involved.
According to RadarOnline.com, the case against Wandelt centers on her persistent and public claims that she is Madeleine McCann—a claim that has been categorically disproven by scientific evidence. Prosecutors told the court that Wandelt pursued what they called a “myth,” contacting the McCanns through a barrage of emails, phone calls, and even unannounced visits to their home. She is alleged to have sent photos to Madeleine’s younger sister, Amelie, in an attempt to persuade her of a familial connection, and to have compared images of herself with those of Madeleine in social media posts and direct messages.
Wandelt’s campaign did not stop at digital communications. As reported by the BBC, on December 7, 2024, she and Spragg traveled to the McCanns’ home in Rothley, Leicestershire, where they confronted Kate McCann and demanded a DNA test. The pair allegedly tried to force a letter into Gerry McCann’s hand, and left a handwritten note on the family’s doorstep, signed “lots of love, Madeleine.” When Mrs. McCann arrived home, she was “accosted” by Wandelt, while Spragg was described as “aggressive.” The situation escalated to the point that police were called as the defendants banged on the front door and refused to leave.
Jurors heard that Wandelt’s attempts to contact the McCanns from Poland had been “rebuffed on hundreds of occasions,” prompting her to travel to the UK to confront them in person. Prosecutor Michael Duck KC described the ordeal as “the last approach any parent would have wanted in the circumstances.” He added, “It was the plainest of intrusions and the fear it caused was inevitable.”
The court also learned that Wandelt’s efforts extended beyond the immediate family. She attempted to engage with relatives and family friends, including David Payne, who was with the McCanns on the night Madeleine disappeared, and messaged Madeleine’s twin brother, Sean, who did not respond. Wandelt even visited Charing Cross police station in London, where she submitted a DNA sample—one that was later destroyed.
Spragg’s role in the saga was no less significant. According to the BBC, she became a “forthright” supporter of Wandelt and the “conspiracy theory” that the McCanns were involved in their daughter’s disappearance. Prosecutors described Spragg’s communications as “vitriolic,” noting that she contacted police investigators with accusations of a cover-up and helped orchestrate “pretty extraordinary” plans, including going through the McCanns’ bins for DNA evidence. Spragg is said to have paid for Wandelt’s travel and to have actively assisted in attempts to contact and harass the family.
Wandelt’s campaign was not limited to private communications. As reported by The Tab, she set up an Instagram page to share what she called “evidence” of her identity as Madeleine, posting about physical similarities and supposed childhood memories linked to Praia Da Luz, the resort where Madeleine was last seen. She contacted police and hospital switchboards, claiming to be Madeleine McCann. In one message to Gerry McCann, Wandelt wrote, “In June 2022 I started to think maybe I am Madeleine McCann. I am not joking, please take this seriously.” In another, she pleaded with Kate McCann: “I never lied. I am not crazy. Please let me prove it.” A particularly emotional voicemail said, “I beg you, you are my real mother, I remember you and our home, give me a chance to prove it. You are mummy. You know it’s me. I remember how you hugged me and a pink teddy bear.”
Despite Wandelt’s repeated assertions, the court was shown unequivocal scientific evidence disproving her claims. Prosecutor Michael Duck KC stated, “You will hear unequivocal scientific evidence in this case that Madeleine McCann is the natural daughter of Kate and Gerry McCann. Julia Wandelt has no familial link to them.” He continued, “There could never have been a legitimate belief by Julia Wandelt that she was Madeleine McCann. At the time of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, Julia Wandelt was not of the same age.”
Wandelt reportedly broke down in tears upon hearing this in court, sobbing as the reality of her situation was laid bare. She and Spragg both deny the charges of stalking and causing serious distress to the McCanns. Their defense has yet to be fully outlined, but both have pleaded not guilty and maintain that their actions were not intended to harass or intimidate.
The impact on the McCann family has been profound. The court heard that the repeated intrusions, both digital and physical, caused significant fear and distress. The McCanns, who have endured years of public scrutiny and speculation since their daughter’s disappearance, found themselves once again at the center of an unwanted media storm. Mr. Duck KC emphasized that one of the “readily anticipated consequences” of Wandelt’s claims was to “create significant media interest” and attract those “who choose to perpetuate the false allegations which Madeleine’s disappearance has generated.”
The case has also shone a light on the broader issue of conspiracy theories and the impact of viral misinformation. Wandelt’s campaign, amplified by social media and online communities, demonstrates how quickly false narratives can spread and the real-world harm they can cause. The prosecution described the entire episode as a “well-planned campaign of harassment” and a “conspiracy theory” that spiraled out of control.
Wandelt was ultimately arrested at Bristol Airport in February 2025, with Spragg detained in a nearby car park. Their trial continues, with more evidence and testimony expected in the coming weeks.
For the McCanns, the ordeal serves as a painful reminder of the enduring mystery surrounding Madeleine’s disappearance. Despite years of investigation and the emergence of a prime suspect, Christian Brueckner, Madeleine has not been seen since she vanished in 2007. The trial of Wandelt and Spragg may provide some measure of closure for the family, but it cannot erase the trauma of the past eighteen years—or the relentless scrutiny that has defined their lives.
