A woman who claims to be Madeleine McCann has had an emotional outburst in court as she faces stalking charges.
Julia Wandelt, 23, from Lubin in southwest Poland, appeared at Leicester Crown Court on April 22, where she pleaded not guilty to charges of stalking the missing child’s family and causing them serious alarm and distress, per BBC News.
Wandelt rose to viral fame last year after launching an Instagram campaign insisting she was the British toddler who vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007.
Despite a DNA test later confirming she was Polish, Wandelt continued to push her claims - resulting in a two-and-a-half-year “campaign of harassment,” according to prosecutors.
Alleged Campaign Included Messages, Emails, and Visits to the McCanns’ Home
The court heard that between June 2022 and February 2025, Wandelt bombarded Kate and Gerry McCann - Madeleine’s parents - with a barrage of communications.
These included emails, WhatsApp messages, phone calls, voicemails, and even social media messages to the couple’s surviving children, Sean and Amelie.
Prosecutor Ravinder Daroch said Wandelt’s contact “increased in frequency and became more alarming,” alleging she attempted to make the McCanns believe “she was their missing daughter, Madeleine.”
The court also heard that Wandelt visited the McCanns’ home in Rothley, Leicestershire, twice in 2024 - on May 2 and again on December 7 - and left behind letters.
She is also accused of showing up in the village to attend an annual vigil marking Madeleine’s disappearance, despite the family’s absence.
Julia Wandelt Has Emotional Outburst In Court
As the prosecution finished asking Kate McCann questions earlier today (October 8), the judge ordered a 10-minute break before she is cross-examined.
As Kate McCann finished, Wandelt began to sob loudly and shouted: "Why are you doing this to me?"
She was then led away from the dock.
“I Could Be Your Daughter”: Messages Shared With the Court
During Monday’s hearing, prosecutors presented messages Wandelt allegedly sent to the McCanns, including one to Gerry that read: “I could be your daughter, it's possible I'm her.”
She also claimed that people were “trying to cover up the story” and cited physical similarities, such as matching scars, to Madeleine.
Her messages extended to Madeleine’s sister Amelie, whom she messaged through Instagram, calling her “my only hope” and sharing doctored images suggesting they were somehow related. She claimed to have memories of “life before the abduction.”
In one message sent to Kate McCann, Wandelt wrote: “I remember you came to my room before the abduction, rubbed my head and said 'I love you and I will find you.’”
She also claimed to recall playing ring-a-roses with the children and feeding her younger brother, Sean.
Another Woman Also Facing Charges
Alongside Wandelt, 60-year-old Karen Spragg of Cardiff is also facing charges of stalking the McCanns. She allegedly made phone calls, sent letters, and visited the family’s home. Like Wandelt, Spragg has pleaded not guilty.
Unlike Wandelt, however, Spragg has been granted conditional bail. Her restrictions include no contact with the McCanns or their associates, no entry into Leicestershire unless for court, and residence at her listed address.
Wandelt remains in custody after a denied bail application in March. She was arrested in February upon arriving at Bristol Airport.