Polish Woman Alleging to Be Madeleine McCann 'Confronts Kate at Family Home, Demands DNA Test'

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Trial Details
• Harassment Campaign
• Arrest
• Conclusion

A Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann confronted her mother, Kate, at home and demanded a DNA test, a court was informed.

Julia Wandelt, who is on trial for stalking, ‘lay in wait’ for the couple outside their residence in Rothley, Leicestershire, alongside her co-defendant, the jury was told.

Polish national Julia Wandelt, who is on trial for stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, has claimed to be their missing daughter, Maddie. The woman confronted Kate at home and demanded a DNA test, as reported in court.

When Kate arrived at her house, the women allegedly ambushed her, forcing Kate, 57, to ‘seek refuge’ inside, despite Wandelt's attempts to prevent her from closing the front door.

Leicester Crown Court heard that cardiologist Gerry then returned home and was also confronted aggressively by Wandelt and her co-defendant, before Wandelt attempted to hand him a letter.

The pair eventually departed, but the following day, a handwritten note was delivered through the McCanns’ door, addressed ‘Dear Mum (Kate).’

Michael Duck KC, prosecuting, stated that the note read: “I believe that deep down in your heart, you know who I am. I am your daughter… I hope you will find a way to contact me.”

He informed the jury that it was ‘cruelly’ signed ‘Lots of love, x.’

It is alleged that the ‘conspiracy theorists’ conducted a ‘well-planned campaign of harassment’ against the McCanns, with Wandelt, 24, accused of bombarding them with phone calls and messages—60 in a single day.

Spragg, 61, reportedly ‘joined forces’ with her co-defendant last year after discovering Wandelt's story online and ‘embraced and expanded’ the false claims of her being Madeleine with enthusiasm.

On the second day of their trial, the court heard that their visit to the McCann family home occurred in December last year, after Spragg picked up Wandelt from East Midlands Airport following a flight to the UK from Poland.

Recordings played in court captured the moments they approached the couple, with Kate heard saying, ‘You are causing us a lot of distress. Now stop it.’

Mr. Duck told the court: “Kate was observed by her husband as being visibly upset by the actions of the women, and the incident made both of them more vigilant when unfamiliar cars were seen near their home. It was a blatant intrusion, and the fear it caused was unavoidable.

“Their presence outside the McCanns’ residence resulted from intricate planning and significant financial expenditure.

“Regardless of what they claim to believe or understand, it does not give anyone the right to lie in wait for their targets outside their own home and impose their will upon them—that is precisely what occurred.”

Before the confrontation, Spragg allegedly messaged a friend stating: “We are sitting outside the McCann’s home waiting for them to return. We are sitting like private investigators with the car lights off... I never thought I would be stalking the McCanns xxx.”

Mr. Duck mentioned that the women also discussed searching through the McCanns’ rubbish to obtain Kate’s DNA or following them to a restaurant to ‘steal’ a piece of cutlery she had used.

They were eventually arrested on February 19 of this year at the airport when Wandelt once again arrived in the UK.

She was detained as she exited her flight, while Spragg was apprehended by police as she waited in a car outside to pick up her co-defendant.

Wandelt, from Lubin, Poland, and Spragg, from the UK, deny one count each of stalking that caused serious alarm or distress between June 2022 and February of this year.

The trial, which is expected to last up to five weeks, is ongoing.

Maddie went missing in Portugal in 2007 at the age of three. A DNA test has confirmed that Julia is not Maddie.