Woman Who Claimed to Be Madeleine McCann Convicted of Harassment
A 24-year-old Polish woman, Julia Wandelt, has been found guilty of harassing the family of Madeleine McCann, the young girl who vanished from a Portuguese holiday apartment in 2007. The verdict was delivered at Leicester Crown Court following a four-week trial.
The court heard that Wandelt waged an extensive campaign against the McCann family between June 2022 and February 2024. This campaign involved making telephone calls, leaving messages, and even turning up at the family's home.
The Charges and the Verdict
After considering the evidence, the jury found Julia Wandelt guilty of harassment. However, she was cleared of the more serious charge of stalking. A co-defendant in the case, Karen Spragg, was found not guilty of both stalking and harassment charges.
The trial detailed the distress caused to the McCann family, who have been at the centre of a global missing person's case since their daughter disappeared in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007.
Background of the Case
Julia Wandelt had previously attracted media attention by publicly claiming that she was the missing Madeleine McCann. Her subsequent actions, which formed the basis of the harassment charges, directly targeted the McCann family over a period of several months.
The case highlights the ongoing impact of high-profile disappearances on the families involved and the legal consequences for those who choose to target them.
