A Polish woman has been convicted of harassing the parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann for over two years. Julia Wandelt, 24, was found guilty at Leicester Crown Court after she falsely claimed to be the child who vanished in May 2007, shortly before her fourth birthday. While Wandelt was acquitted of more serious stalking charges, the court heard substantial evidence supporting her conviction for harassment.
Wandelt’s harassment included persistent emails, messages, and phone calls directed at Kate and Gerry McCann from June 2022 until her arrest in February 2023. Prosecutors presented “unequivocal scientific evidence” demonstrating that Wandelt had no biological connection to the McCann family, which led to an emotional reaction from her in the courtroom.
Details of the Case
During the trial, Kate McCann testified about the distress caused by Wandelt’s actions. In December 2022, Wandelt approached McCann at her home, claiming to be her missing daughter. The following day, she sent a letter addressed to “mum,” which McCann described as “really distressing.” Wandelt reportedly cried during parts of McCann’s testimony, and her outburst at the end of the prosecution’s questioning highlighted the emotional weight of the proceedings.
Both Kate and Gerry McCann, alongside their younger daughter Amelie, provided evidence detailing the impact of Wandelt’s attempts to contact them. The McCanns continue to advocate for updates regarding their daughter, who would now be 22 years old. Each year, they issue a statement on the anniversary of her disappearance, emphasizing their ongoing search for answers.
Wandelt had previously claimed to be two other missing girls. In court, she expressed that her intention was not to cause harm but to discover if she could be the McCanns’ daughter. “I even have sympathy for them… because they look for their child and I look for my parents,” she stated.
Sentencing and Legal Outcomes
The court’s verdict resulted in Wandelt’s conviction for harassment, which carries a maximum sentence of six months. Given the time she has already spent in custody, she is expected to be released when sentenced later today.
The case underscores the profound emotional toll that the McCann family’s ongoing quest for answers has endured since their daughter went missing on May 3, 2007, while they were on holiday in Portugal. The main suspect in her disappearance was released from a German prison in September 2022 after serving a seven-year sentence for an unrelated sex crime, further complicating the McCanns’ search for closure.
