A woman facing charges of stalking Madeleine McCann’s family allegedly sent unsettling messages to a couple who were in Portugal at the time of the child’s disappearance, according to details revealed in court proceedings. Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg are currently standing trial at Leicester Crown Court for allegedly stalking Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann. Prosecutors claim that Wandelt propagated false assertions that she was Madeleine and persistently reached out to Kate and Gerry via emails, phone calls, and even made a physical visit to their residence between June 2022 and February this year.
During recent court hearings, it was disclosed that a DNA test conducted on Wandelt definitively confirmed that she was not the missing child. Detective Chief Inspector Cranwell, the senior investigating officer for Operation Grange since 2018, relayed the message to Wandelt that the DNA sample obtained while she was in custody disproved any link to Madeleine McCann. The court proceedings shed light on the distressing messages Wandelt sent to a couple who were present in Portugal when Madeleine went missing. It was also revealed that Wandelt attempted to contact the daughter of David and Fiona Payne, close friends of the McCanns for over two decades, causing distress to the family.
In court testimonies, Mr. and Mrs. Payne recounted Wandelt’s persistent calls and messages in the past year, including attempts to engage with their daughter, prompting Mrs. Payne to express her frustration at the manipulation of the vulnerable young adult. Mrs. Payne highlighted the disturbing nature of the communications they received, noting that while they had encountered various inquiries over the years, they had never been contacted by someone claiming to be Madeleine.
Wandelt, hailing from Lubin in southwest Poland, allegedly suggested in a message that a DNA test with the McCanns could help members of the ‘Tapas Seven’ group clear their names. Recordings of phone conversations between Wandelt and Mr. Payne were presented in court, revealing her plea to connect with Kate and Gerry. Wandelt’s insistence on a DNA test and claims of potential identity as Madeleine left Mr. Payne perturbed. Subsequent messages from Wandelt appealed to Mr. Payne’s compassion, citing a desire to end years of criticism and trauma.
Moreover, Wandelt’s requests for the McCanns’ blood groups and references to past medical treatments raised concerns about her intentions. Mr. Payne expressed surprise and alarm over Wandelt possessing private photos of their families, emphasizing the need to maintain privacy. The court further learned of a message sent by Wandelt to Mr. Payne on Christmas Eve, conveying a holiday greeting with a cryptic message about truth setting everyone free.
The trial involves Wandelt and her co-defendant, 61-year-old Karen Spragg from Caerau Court Road in Cardiff, who both plead not guilty to the charge of stalking.