Accused Stalker Questioned: 'Yet Imagine I Might Be Madeleine?'

Courtroom sketch
Julia Wandelt - who a court has heard believes she is disappeared Madeleine McCann - deny the allegations

A woman charged with pursuing Kate McCann apparently left her a phone message which questioned: "imagine I am Madeleine?"

Julia Wandelt, 24, who witnesses stated has consistently declared she was the vanished Madeleine McCann, and her co-defendant are standing trial accused with harassing Kate and Gerry McCann from June 2022 and February 2025.

Madeleine McCann photo
Madeleine McCann's vanishing has never been resolved

On Monday, Leicester Crown Court heard phone records and data retrieved from phones recorded Ms Wandelt persistently asking Madeleine's mother for a genetic test over the past two years.

Madeleine's case in 2007 - when she was three years old during a trip in Portugal - is one of the most publicized investigations and remains unresolved.

'I Don't Want Money'

Another voicemail, shared in court, documented Ms Wandelt declaring: "I know I'm fat and unattractive like Madeleine was, but I feel what I know."

While a separate message of Ms Wandelt's monologues with Mrs McCann's answerphone stated: "Suppose there is a small chance that I am she? What then? Is that not crucial for you?"

"I am not seeking money, I possess a living here in Poland, I just want to know," the recording stated.

The panel was informed that by means of emails, SMS messages and calls, Ms Wandelt asked for a biological test, sent childhood photos to her phone in a bid to demonstrate a resemblance to Mrs McCann's disappeared daughter, and claimed to have "recollections" from a childhood with the McCanns.

The investigator, an intelligence analyst with the police force who collated the evidence, told the court there "seemed to lack any responses" from Mrs McCann.

Ms Wandelt additionally reached out to acquaintances of the McCanns, based on the communication logs.

On that date, the father picked up a communication from Ms Wandelt to his wife's phone, saying she had "incorrect contact information."

During that incident Ms Wandelt recorded a voicemail on Mrs McCann's answerphone declaring "I will persist and I plan to establish my claim."

Court proceedings
Kate and Gerry McCann gave evidence to the court from using a security measure on Wednesday

The court learned the co-defendant struck up a association online with Ms Wandelt prior to joining her on a visit to the McCanns' property in the county in that winter.

Communication data demonstrated Mrs Spragg had contacted through WhatsApp to Mrs McCann to express the news outlets had depicted Ms Wandelt as "mentally unstable" but that she should be treated respectfully in the time before the appearance to the village, that area, in that winter.

The court heard correspondence between the two individuals, in last November, considering trying to obtain Mrs McCann's DNA samples from her garbage or from utensils at a dining venue.

"We have to assert ourselves," Mrs Spragg told Ms Wandelt.

On the night of the trip to their residence, the defendant sent a text which said: "We are sat near the McCanns' home with our headlights off similar to investigators. I desired to accomplish this with another person I never thought I would be involved in this with the McCanns."

The trial ongoing.

Jessica Hartman
Jessica Hartman

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