Key Highlights
- Julia Wandelt found guilty of harassment but not stalking in relation to the case of Madeleine McCann.
- Karen Spragg was cleared of both stalking and harassment charges by the jury.
- The Polish woman had been manipulating the McCann family for an extended period, causing significant distress.
- Madeleine McCann disappeared in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, at the age of three.
A Polish Woman’s Manipulative Campaign Against Madeleine McCann’s Family
In a recent trial that has drawn significant media attention, Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old from Lubin in south-west Poland, was found guilty of harassing the bereaved family of missing three-year-old Madeleine McCann. The jury at Leicester Crown Court deliberated for over seven hours before delivering their verdicts on November 7, 2025.
Wandelt’s alleged actions included sending emails, leaving voicemails, and physically turning up at the McCann family home in a relentless campaign that had tormented Kate and Gerry McCann for years. The jury found her not guilty of stalking but guilty of harassment. Meanwhile, co-defendant Karen Spragg was cleared of both charges.
The Trial and Verdicts
During the trial, Crown counsel Michael Duck KC accused Wandelt and co-defendant Karen Spragg of “tormenting” the McCann family over a prolonged period, detailing how they had caused significant distress. He emphasized that these actions were wrong and aimed to impose their will on the McCanns despite knowing it was inappropriate.
Wandelt’s defense included an assertion that she did not believe her actions were causing distress. However, in his closing speech, Duck KC pointed out that such a statement is part of the very charges facing Wandelt and Spragg, stating, “She has to say that because that’s part of the very charge that she and Karen Spragg face.”
Background and Impact
Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3, 2007, during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal. The case remains one of the most notorious missing child cases in recent years, with countless theories and investigations over the years. Wandelt’s claims to be Madeleine were always dismissed by authorities but caused significant distress to the McCanns.
“It is ‘blindingly obvious’ that the 24-year-old is not Madeleine,” the judge stated, referring to the clear evidence against Wandelt’s assertions.
The trial highlights the ongoing impact of such false claims on families dealing with missing children and the lengths to which some individuals will go in their pursuit of attention.
Wandelt was found guilty of harassment but not stalking, facing a maximum sentence of six months in prison. However, considering she had been in custody since her arrest in February 2025, the judge noted that she would have served more time than the maximum sentence anyway. The McCann family’s long-standing battle against such false claims continues to be a significant source of emotional distress.
Conclusion
The trial and its verdict serve as a stark reminder of the impact such cases can have on families already dealing with unimaginable loss and heartache. As the case concludes, the McCann family’s journey towards closure remains uncertain, but their resilience in facing these false claims continues to be an inspiration.
