LIVE: Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg ‘confronted Madeleine McCann mum at home’
Julia Wandelt, 24 and Karen Spragg, 61, of Caerau in Cardiff are both accused of stalking the family of missing Madeleine McCann
A woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann confronted the missing youngster’s mum as she arrived home, a trial heard today.
Polish national Julia Wandelt and another woman, Karen Spragg, waited outside the house and surprised Kate McCann as she returned home, demanding a DNA test , the court was told. They unsuccessfully tried to prevent her getting inside then banged on the door, leaving her upset, jurors heard.
Wandelt is accused of sending a letter, calls, voicemails and WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry McCann, and sending Amelie and Sean McCann Instagram messages, claiming to be the missing girl. She is on trial alongside co-accused Karen Spragg from Cardiff, accused of one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress. She is alleged to have made calls, sent letters and attended the home address of Mr and Mrs McCann. Madeleine’s disappearance at the age of three in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007, when she was left sleeping in a villa while her parents went for a meal, during a family holiday, remains unsolved.
Day two of the trial begins today.
Court told how Wandelt ‘unnerved’ Kate McCann before hearing ends for the day
Continuing the prosecution’s opening at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday, Michael Duck KC said Mrs McCann was “unnerved” when they both waited outside her home last year, were “banging on the door” and “tried to force a letter” into Mr McCann’s hand.
Mr Duck told the jury: “She told Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg they were causing distress and they should leave the property.
“Whatever they suggest are their beliefs, they do not afford someone the right to lie in wait for their targets, outside their own home, and enforce their will upon them. That is precisely what happened.”
The trial will continue on Wednesday.
Wandelt told Kate McCann ‘I know Gerry is controlling and you’re probably scared of him’
The court heard Wandelt even sent a message to Kate on Christmas Eve last year which simply read: “Merry Christmas”.
Then just days before her arrest Wandelt allegedly sent her a message which read: “I know you’re my real Mummy. Help me please. I know Gerry is controlling and you’re probably scared of him but please get in touch with me…”
Mr Duck said Wandelt was arrested at Bristol airport in February after flying to the UK to allegedly confront the McCanns again.
Spragg was arrested by officers as she waited in her car for Wandelt at the airport.
Wendlet claims to remember night ‘she was abducted’
Wandelt turned up at a police station in Leicester and claimed to remember the night ‘she’ was abducted in Portugal, the court heard.
She allegedly told an officer: “Someone gave me to the person who took me.
“Before it happened I remember being abused by one man in the room. A few other people were there too.
“Someone injected me with something that made me feel paralysed.
“I saw the man who took me from the other person through the window, had tanned skin, dark hair and was slim.
“I remember a lot. I prefer not to go into details before getting a crime reference number.”
Cruel
Mr Duck said it was a “final, cruel signature”.
Letter “love Madeleine”
The two women left the scene but the following day a letter was posted through the family’s front door, the court heard.
It read: “Dear mum (Kate), I’m so sorry for causing you so much distress, but when I saw you yesterday my emotions were so strong.
“I felt a close connection to you. I don’t like to see you being upset.
“All I want is to find out the truth.
“I have memories and have gathered a lot of evidence supporting my case.
“I think that inside your heart you believe and know who I am and I am your daughter.
“I don’t understand why you don’t want to do a DNA test with me.
“I think you are scared, but whatever makes you scared, just remember that you are stronger than that.
“Yesterday, I heard a lot of care and love in your voice.
“I believe and hope that you will find a way to contact me.
“Lots of love, Madeleine x”
Gerry arrived home and was “shouted at”
“She made a call to Gerry once in the sanctuary of her house, whilst people continued to bang on the front door of her own home,” Mr Duck said.
“Gerry was on his way home anyway but when he arrived the defendants were still present.
“Both women were shouting at him and Wandelt was trying to force a letter into his hand.
“Kate was noted as being visibly upset by the actions of the women and the incident caused both to be more vigilant when unfamiliar cars were seen in the vicinity of their home.
“It was the plainest of intrusions and the fear and concern it caused was inevitable.”
Kate arrived home alone, court hears
“Kate McCann was unfortunate enough to be the first of the couple to arrive home that evening,” the prosecutor said.
“As she emerged from her vehicle she was accosted, not physically, by Wandelt and demands made for a DNA test.
“Spragg was also present and her behaviour was such that Kate was unnerved by it.
“Kate told them that they were causing distress and they should leave the property.
“She then opened her front door and as she attempted to enter her house, Wandelt tried to stop her closing the door but she managed to get herself inside.
“Kate was upset by what had happened.”
Defendants “sat outside McCann home”
In a message, Spragg allegedly told a friend: “We are sat outside the McCanns’ home waiting for them to come home.
“We are sat like private investigators with car lights out … Never thought I would be stalking the McCanns xxx”
Mr Duck said Wandelt and Spragg “recognised that what they were doing was wrong and the “upset” it would cause the family.
Maddie’s brother contacted, jurors heard
In November last year Wandelt turned her attention to Madeleine’s brother Sean and contacted him on Instagram, it is claimed.
Jurors were told he ignored her messages.
Pair “considered taking bin bags”
Wandelt and Spragg considered removing rubbish bags from the McCanns’ home to retrieve DNA, Mr Duck said.
Mr Duck said: “The ends to which they were prepared to go were pretty extraordinary.”
Maddie’s sister contacted, court told
Mr Duck said Maddie’s younger sister Amelie told their mum Kate she had received unwanted contact from Wandelt in the autumn of last year.
He said: “Kate and Gerry always sought to ensure, as best they were able, their younger twins were kept out of any glare of publicity.
“As a result, Kate reported that contact to Operation Grange.”
Wandelt also repeatedly contacted David Payne, who was with the McCanns on the night Madeleine vanished, it is claimed.
Wandelt and Spragg “conspired”
Mr Duck said Wandelt began to communicate with her co-accused Spragg in mid-2024.
He described her as a “forthright supporter” of the conspiracy the McCanns were involved in their daughter’s disappearance.
In a message to police she allegedly said: “Everyone knows the McCanns are guilty and you know the truth and a massive cover up is happening.”
“I presume I am your missing daughter”
Jurors were told Wandelt wrote in the letter: “I presume I am your missing daughter.”
Before leaving the UK she walked into a central London police station and claimed she was Madeleine.
A DNA sample was taken but later destroyed, the court was told.
The following month detectives warned Wandelt to stay away from the McCanns but she refused, it is claimed.
She begged for DNA test, jurors told
Mr Duck said the following day the McCanns discovered a bottle of wine on their doorstep alongside a note from Wandelt.
In the hand-written letter she begged the couple to take a DNA test to find out if they were her parents, the court heard.
Wandelt “spoke to village priest”
Wandelt handed a letter to Kate’s great aunt Janet Kennedy and also spoke to the village priest, jurors were told.
Wandelt “disappointed plan failed”
Mr Duck said Wandelt’s plan failed after Kate and Gerry decided to stay away from the event.
“The absence of her targets was clearly a disappointment to Wandelt,” he said.
Kate McCann “called police”
Mr Duck told jurors that Kate McCann alerted police about Wandelt’s attempts to contact her in April 2024.
But a week later she turned up at an annual vigil held in Rothley in a bid to meet the McCanns face-to-face, it is claimed
Wandelt “contacted Maddie’s sister”
Resuming the trial today, prosecutor Michael Duck KC said Wandelt told Amelie in one message: “I will do whatever is needed to prove my identity.”
Voicemail played to jury
A voicemail left on Mrs McCann’s phone was played to the jury yesterday, in which defendant Wandelt said: “You have nothing to lose, if I’m her then everybody should be okay but if I’m not, as you probably think, then I will leave you alone.
“I know my accent is Polish because I live here, I know I look fat and I know I’m not pretty like Madeleine was in the past, but I know what I know, I know what I remember.
“Please just give me a chance, I’m not a liar, I’m not crazy – I just want to know the truth. Call me or message me or whatever please.”
Wandelt claimed to be different missing girl
Yesterday, the court heard Wandelt contacted a charity called Missing Years Ago, which helps with historic missing person cases, in January or February 2023, dates which “coincided with Julia Wandelt’s assertion she was Madeleine McCann”.
Prosecutor Mr Duck told the jury: “The initial contact with the charity was not to contend that she was Madeleine McCann but rather to suggest that she was another missing girl, Inga Gehricke.
“Inga was a young girl who had disappeared in Germany, but as with Madeleine McCann, Julia Wandelt was precluded from being a realistic candidate by virtue of her age and obvious differences.”
Defendant arrives
Karen Spragg has arrived for day two of her trial, where she is accused of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.
She is wearing a white blouse and grey cardigan and was walking hand-in-hand with a man.
Karen Spragg arrives at Leicester Crown Court (
PA)
Trial restarts
Day two of the trial of Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg is set to go ahead today in court two at Leicester Crown Court.
The hearing is in front of Mrs Justice Cutts.
‘I know so many things. I can tell you my memories’
Wandelt sent a message to Madeleine’s sister Amelie in January 2024 where she claimed she “never lied about anything”, said the prosecuction.
The message, partly read out in court, said: “I know so many things. I can tell you my memories. Please don’t block me. I never lied about anything. I beg you Amelie.
“I remember so many things, the kitchen, the garden, I remember what game I was playing in the garden with you, I know what I was calling you when we were playing. You are my only hope.
“I remember feeding Sean. I remember Kate saying I make more of a mess than my brother. I remember playing ring a ring a roses. Can you take a DNA test? I’ll pay. I need you to believe me Amelie, maybe inside your heart you know.”
Wandelt ‘called over 60 times in a day’ to Kate McCann
Mr Duck told jurors that Wandelt was “not deterred” by the refusal of the McCanns to engage with her.
The court heard she obtained Kate McCann’s mobile phone number and began ringing her. He claimed on a single day in April last year, she called and messaged her over 60 times.
Wandelt and Spragg ‘perpetuated’ conspiracy theories says prosecution
Prosecutor Mr Duck claimed that Wandelt and Spragg have “perpetuated” conspiracy theories.
“Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3, 2007. You know she disappeared from an apartment in Praia da Luz on the coast of Portugal. Her disappearance generated worldwide media attention. She was nine days short of her fourth birthday,” he said.
“One of many tragic consequences for Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, has been their constant inability to escape the glare of publicity that came with that tragedy.
“The attention they have received has not always been compassionate, sometimes far from it. There remains a group of individuals who continue to fail to acknowledge their plight and perpetuate conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, these two defendants belong to that latter group.”
Wandelt tells Gerry McCann ‘I can be your daughter’
Jurors during the stalking trial heard Wandelt sent Gerry McCann an email with the subject line: “Read it, please , it’s very important”.
Part of it allegedly read: “In June 2022 I started to think I’m Madeleine McCann.. I’m not joking. Please take this email seriously.”
It continued: “I don’t know what’s going on but I have the same scars as your daughter did and a mark on my eye. I can be your daughter, it’s very possible I’m her. If you believe Maddie is alive, write to me or call me.”
Jury told ‘unequivocal scientific evidence’ that Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann
Jurors were told that there was “unequivocal scientific evidence” that Julia Wandelt, 24, from Lubin in south-west Poland, has no familial link to the McCanns despite her claiming to have memories of the girl’s childhood and disappearance.
Wandelt started audibly crying and went to the back of the dock when prosecutor Michael Duck KC said on Monday: “Can we at this very early stage in the trial make this position clear – that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.”
She returned to the dock beside Spragg after a 10-minute break to listen to the rest of hearing.
Opening the Crown’s case, Mr Duck told the jury of five men and seven women that from June 2022, Wandelt began attempting to persuade “anybody prepared to listen” that she was Madeleine.
‘Mrs McCann’s refusal to respond did not deter Julia Wandelt’
Mr Duck told the jury: “The refusal to respond by Mrs McCann did not deter Julia Wandelt.”
Wandelt also claimed to have “flashbacks” from hypnosis sessions, including one memory of spoon-feeding Madeleine’s younger brother.
The court heard Wandelt emailed Mr McCann in June 2023 and messaged Madeleine’s younger sister on other occasions saying there were “many things” she could remember, and that she would “never lie”.
Wandelt tells Mrs McCann ‘you have nothing to lose’
A voicemail left on Mrs McCann’s phone was played to the jury in which Wandelt said: “You have nothing to lose, if I’m her then everybody should be okay but if I’m not, as you probably think, then I will leave you alone.
“I know my accent is Polish because I live here, I know I look fat and I know I’m not pretty like Madeleine was in the past, but I know what I know, I know what I remember.
“Please just give me a chance, I’m not a liar, I’m not crazy – I just want to know the truth. Call me or message me or whatever please.”
Court heard how Wandelt had previously said she was ‘another missing girl’
The court heard that Wandelt contacted a charity called Missing Years Ago, which helps with historic missing person cases, in January or February 2023, dates which “coincided with Julia Wandelt’s assertion she was Madeleine McCann”.
Mr Duck said: “The initial contact with the charity was not to contend that she was Madeleine McCann but rather to suggest that she was another missing girl, Inga Gehricke.
“Inga was a young girl who had disappeared in Germany, but as with Madeleine McCann, Julia Wandelt was precluded from being a realistic candidate by virtue of her age and obvious differences.”
‘There could never be a legitimate belief by Julia Wandelt that she was Madeleine McCann’
The prosecutor Mr Duck said Wandelt has claimed to have memories of being part of the McCann family and remembers growing up with Madeleine’s younger siblings.
He added: “Nothing gives you the right to pursue and stalk people just because you want them to bend to your will and do as you demand or request.
“There could never have been a legitimate belief by Julia Wandelt that she was Madeleine McCann. At the time of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, Julia Wandelt was not of the same age.
“She obtained numerous images of Madeleine McCann but also other images of the McCann family and sought to compare them to images of herself.”
Court hears of ‘wicked proposition’ before hearing adjourned
Wandelt allegedly wrote a message to Kate McCann saying: “I remember how you hugged me and a pink teddy bear.
“I remember that you came to the room before the abduction happened and were rubbing my head and said you will find me.”
Mr Duck described that passage as a “particularly wicked proposition”.
The hearing has now been adjourned and will resume tomorrow.
‘I remember how you hugged me and a pink teddy bear’, Wandelt allegedly said in messages
In another message Wandelt allegedly wrote: “I remember how you hugged me and a pink teddy bear.
“I remember that you came to the room before the abduction happened and were rubbing my head and said you will find me.”
Mr Duck described that passage as a “particularly wicked proposition”.
The hearing has now been adjourned and will resume tomorrow.
‘I know things that only Madeleine and Gerry would know’ Wandelt allegedly told Kate McCann
Wandelt allegedly wrote to Kate McCann saying: “Hello I’m Julia and I think I’m your daughter Madeleine … I can prove it’s me. I know things that only Madeleine knew and Gerry would know.
“I beg you, you’re my real mother. Give me a chance to prove it. You are mommy, you know it’s me.”
Messages allegedly sent to Kate by Wandelt also included “I never lied, I’m not crazy, please let me prove it” and “I can prove it’s me.”
In a voicemail played to the court, Wandelt allegedly told Kate: “Please try you have nothing to lose. If I’m not then I will leave you alone. Just think about it. I know my accent is Polish because I lived here since I can remember.
“I know I’m fat and not pretty like Madeleine was in the past but I know what I know and I know what I remember. I don’t want money. I just want one call and then I’ll leave you alone. Give me a chance, don’t give up on your daughter. I’m not crazy, I just want to know the truth. You have no reason to reject me.”
Wandelt told Madeleine’s sister ‘I need you to believe me Amelie, maybe inside your heart you know’
Mr Duck said Wandelt sent a message to Madeleine’s sister Amelie in January 2024.
The message, partly read out in court, said: “I know so many things. I can tell you my memories. Please don’t block me. I never lied about anything. I beg you Amelie.
“I remember so many things, the kitchen, the garden, I remember what game I was playing in the garden with you, I know what I was calling you when we were playing. You are my only hope.
“I remember feeding Sean. I remember Kate saying I make more of a mess than my brother. I remember playing ring a ring a roses. Can you take a DNA test? I’ll pay. I need you to believe me Amelie, maybe inside your heart you know.”
Wandelt ‘called and messaged Kate McCann over 60 times in one day’
Mr Duck told jurors that Wandelt was “not deterred” by the refusal of the McCanns to engage with her.
The court heard she obtained Kate’s mobile phone number and began ringing her. He said on a single day in April last year, she called and messaged her over 60 times.
Wandelt not the same age as Maddie
Mr Duck added: “Nothing gives you the right to pursue and stalk people just because you want them to bend to your will and do as you demand or request.
“There could never have been a legitimate belief by Julia Wandelt that she was Madeleine McCann. At the time of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, Julia Wandelt was not of the same age.
“She obtained numerous images of Madeleine McCann but also other images of the McCann family and sought to compare them to images of herself.”
Conspiracy theory
Mr Duck added: “Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3 2007. You know she disappeared from an apartment in Praia da Luz on the coast of Portugal. Her disappearance generated worldwide media attention. She was nine days short of her fourth birthday.
“One of many tragic consequences for Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, has been their constant inability to escape the glare of publicity that came with that tragedy.
“The attention they have received has not always been compassionate, sometimes far from it.
“There remains a group of individuals who continue to fail to acknowledge their plight and perpetuate conspiracy theories.
“Unfortunately, these two defendants belong to that latter group.”
Claimed she was abducted
Mr Duck said: “Her contention over the two and a half years that followed was therefore that she must have been abducted and taken to Poland where she lived with people who she was erroneously told were her parents.
“You will see and hear occasions upon which she claims to have evolving memories of what actually happened in May 2007.
“She pursued claims that she was Madeleine McCann and she pursued Madeleine McCann’s parents over a period of time and pursued that myth.
Jury hear from prosecutor
Mr Duck told the jury of five men and seven women that from June 2022, Wandelt began attempting to persuade “anybody prepared to listen” that she was Madeleine.
No link between Wandelt and McCanns
Jurors were told that there was “unequivocal scientific evidence” that Wandelt, from Lubin in south-west Poland, has no familial link to the McCanns despite her claiming to have memories of the girl’s childhood and disappearance.
Maddie’s sister sent images
Mr Duck said Wandelt forwarded digitally-altered images of herself to Madeleine’s youngster sister Amelie.
He told the court: “Those images were designed to persuade Amelie McCann there were similarities between Wandelt and Amelia and support the contention they were somehow related.”
Trial resumes
Wandelt returned to the dock after a short break and the trial resumed.
Mr Duck told jurors: “You will hear unequivocal scientific evidence that Madeleine McCann is the natural daughter of Kate and Gerry McCann and that Julia Wandelt has no familial link to them at all.”
Jury sent out of courtroom
Mrs Justice Cutts, the judge presiding over the case at Leicester Crown Court, halted the trial and ordered the jury out of the courtroom.
Wandelt is not Maddie McCann
Mr Duck told jurors: “At this very early stage in the trial, can we make this clear, Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.”
Maddie’s siblings to give evidence
Prosecutor Mr Duck told jurors they will also hear evidence from Madeleine’s twin siblings Sean and Amelie.
Wandelt, wearing black leggings and white jumped, sobbed in the dock as the trial began.
She then broke down and walked to the back of the glass-fronted dock.
Co-accused Karen Spragg
Karen Spragg is on trial alongside Julia Wandelt. Spragg is 61 and from Cardiff.
Pair in court accused of stalking
A woman who falsely claimed to be Madeleine McCann is on trial accused of stalking the missing youngster’s family.
Julia Wandelt, 24, carried out a “well-planned campaign of harassment” against Kate and Gerry McCann for nearly three years, jurors heard.
The Polish national allegedly “pursued” the couple by email, phone calls and visits to their home in Rothley, Leicestershire.
She is standing trial at Leicester crown court alongside co-accused Karen Spragg, 61, of Cardiff.
They are both accused of stalking.
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC said their behaviour caused the McCanns “significant harm and distress”.
