A Polish woman who made international headlines after falsely claiming to be missing child Madeleine McCann has pleaded not guilty to charges of stalking the McCann family.
Julia Wandel, 23, from Lubin, south-west Poland, appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Monday, accused of harassing Kate and Gerry McCann and their two children, Sean and Amelie. The allegations include sending WhatsApp and Instagram messages, leaving voicemails, and even turning up at the family’s home on two separate occasions.
Wandel, who previously identified herself online as Madeleine McCann in 2023, was remanded in custody following her court appearance. DNA testing later confirmed she is not related to the McCann family.
The court also heard that Wandel allegedly travelled to Rothley, Leicestershire, in 2024 to attend a vigil marking the anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance — an event the McCanns did not attend. Prosecutors say she delivered a letter to their home during the trip.
Prosecutor Ravinder Daroch told the court that Wandel’s contact with the family had been “persistent” since 2022, increasing in frequency and becoming more “alarming” over time. It is alleged she made efforts to convince the McCanns that she was their missing daughter, causing them “serious alarm and distress.”
In a related case, Karen Spragg, 60, from Caerau in Cardiff, also appeared in court and denied a separate charge of stalking the McCanns. Spragg is accused of making phone calls, sending letters, and appearing at the couple’s home. She was granted conditional bail ahead of trial.
Both Wandel and Spragg are scheduled to stand trial on October 2 at Leicester Crown Court.
Wandel faces four charges of stalking, each carrying a maximum sentence of 12 months imprisonment or an unlimited fine. The charges relate to conduct between May 2, 2024, and February 15, 2025, and include messages directed at Madeleine’s younger siblings.
The McCanns have not issued a public statement regarding the proceedings.
Madeleine McCann disappeared at the age of three during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. Despite global media attention and multiple investigations, the case remains one of the most high-profile missing persons cases in the world and is still unsolved.
