A POLISH woman who falsely claimed to be Maddie McCann “pursued that myth” by stalking the missing girl’s parents, a court heard.
Julia Wandelt allegedly sent unwanted emails, made multiple phone calls and even turned up at the home of Gerry and Kate McCann.
Dr Fia JohanssonJulia Wandelt, 24, is claiming to be Madeleine McCann[/caption]
PAMaddie was three when she vanished without a trace in 2007[/caption]
The 24-year-old believed she had memories of Maddie’s childhood and disappearance before being supposedly trafficked to Poland.
Jurors were told Wandelt tried to persuade “anybody prepared to listen” that she was the British toddler who disappeared in May 2007.
Michael Duck KC, prosecuting, said: “You will hear unequivocal scientific evidence in this case that Madeleine McCann is the natural daughter of Kate and Gerry McCann.
“Julia Wandelt has no familial link to them.”
Wandelt, from Lubin in south west Poland, burst into tears yesterday and had to take a 10-minute break after hearing she wasn’t Maddie.
Mr Duck added: “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.”
Leicester Crown Court heard she compared herself to images of Maddie and tried to convince the younger McCann daughter Amelie they were related.
Wandelt and co-accused Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, deny stalking causing serious alarm and distress to Kate and Gerry between June 2022 and February this year.
Mr Duck claimed the defendants are among a group who “perpetuate conspiracy theories” about Maddie, who vanished in Praia da Luz, Portugal.
He claimed the “well-planned campaign of harassment” had a “substantial adverse effect on the day-to-day activities” of the McCann parents.
The court head Wandelt initially called the hospital where they work and emailed the Met Police investigation codenamed Operation Grange.
She later messaged Gerry: “In June 2022 I started to think maybe I am Madeleine McCann. I am not joking, please take this seriously.”
Jurors heard she went on to call and message Kate over 60 times during a single day in April 2024, writing: “I never lied. I am not crazy. Please let me prove it.”
Recorded voicemail messages were played in court where Wandelt was heard pleading: “I beg you, you are my real mother, I remember you and our home, give me a chance to prove it
“You are mummy. You know it’s me. I remember how you hugged me and a pink teddy bear.”
The trial, which is expected to last up to five weeks in front of High Court judge Mrs Justice Cutts, continues.
CBSWandelt even turned up at Kate and Gerry McCann’s home[/caption]
PAJulia stalked the missing girl’s parents and called her mum Kate 60 times in one day[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
