Woman found guilty of harassing Motleine McCann’s parents

A woman who repeatedly claimed to be Madeleine McCann has been found guilty of harassing the missing girl’s parents but has been cleared of a more serious sending charge.

Julia Wandelt and her support of Karen Sprugg – who has been cleared of all charges – have been accused of claiming a “campaign of harassment” against Kate and Gerry McCann, which in Wandelt’s case lasted for two years.

Wandelt, 24, of Lubin, Poland, was found guilty of a lesser count of harassment and sentenced to six months in prison, which he has been serving since February.

In a statement, the McCanns said that, despite the guilty verdicts, they were “displeased with the outcome”.

After the trial, the McCanns said they did not want to go through the court process, but a decision to be sentenced was made by the Crown Procession Service (CPS), based on evidence gathered by the police.

“We hope that MS Wanduroy will receive the appropriate care and support that she needs and that any weakness will not be taken advantage of by others,” they said.

“If anyone has new evidence relating to Madeleine’s disappearance, please pass it on to the police.”

Wandelt was sentenced during a hearing at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

During his sentencing speech, Mrs Justice said in the Justice that she accepted that the Polish National who did nothing was a child”.

But he said that his family history created by the family “does not justify the way you behave”.

“It is proven in this case that you are not MEDEINEIN MCACANN,” he said.

“There is no appropriate or reasonable basis for this.”

The judgment said the McCanns “had the right to leave matters to the police and refused to join you especially in the sad circumstances in which they were living”.

He added: “Your constant pestering, bleeding and, later, attending their speech at home on a dark December night was not tolerated.”

The Judge also granted a restraining order stopping both Wandelt and Mr Spragg, 61, of Caerau Court Road, Cardiff, from contacting the McCannshires or attending any broadcasts about the family.

Wandelt’s order will remain in place indefinitely, or until further orders are made, while Mrs Spragg’s order will be for five years.

The court heard WandELT claims that Madeleine, whose disappearance during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007 has not been solved, since 2022.

The results of a DNA test carried out after his arrest in February of this year “he is not the missing child, but, under the crosselt, Wandelt told the court that he is” 50-50 “about his identity.

The court has previously heard claims that two other children were missing before it was confirmed that she was Madeleine.

Giving evidence, she told the jury she had limited memories of her childhood and “can only remember the abuse” after the experiences with her great-grandfather.

He began to reach the McCann family through Glenfield Hospital, where Madeleine’s parents work, in June 2022 and then the Metropolitan police investigation into the missing child.

The police looked into Wandelt’s claims and called her “reassurance” she is not Madeine, the court heard in a direct attempt to go to a leaked Portuguese Police File and posted online.

Mrs McCann was later “bombarded” with more than 60 calls and messages a day, the court was told.

Mr McCann told the court on another occasion, she responded by saying “something like, ‘You’re not Madeseine'”.

He said the claims were like “pulling at your heartstrings” but “damaged” the search for his daughter.

The court heard the younger siblings Amelie, and then Sean, contacted Wandelt on social media, and family members – including the parish – until February 2025.

But attempts to compel the McCanns for a DNA test have not been carried out far enough.

Wandelt attended a vigil for Madeleine where he tried to organize the organization that Janet Kennedy, great belonging to Madeleine, an envelope.

He said he “tried to remain polite and calm”, but told the jury he was “surprised” by the procedure.

Mrs Kennedy later destroyed the letter, the court heard.

After finding out about Wandelt’s visit to VIGIL and then singing at the Cross Police Station with DNA – which later destroyed the settlement a second time he said “no uncertain terms that” he is uncertain terms “he is uncertain terms that” he is uncertain terms “he is uncertain terms that” he is uncertain terms “he is uncertain words” that he does not have bad terms

He advised her that if she returned to Leicestershire she could face harassment charges.

The conversation – which was played in court – was recorded without the knowledge of Det Con DrayCott, the jury heard, and uploaded to a YouTube Crime Podcast with averellt.

Prosecutor Michael Duck KC said that during this time Mrs Spragg, of Caerau Court Road, Cardiff, had given up a relationship to support her wishes to support her wishes to support her wishes to support her wishes to support her wishes to support her wishes to support her wishes to support her firstborn and “Conspiracy theories”.

An exchange on WhatsApp in November 2024 between WandELT and Mrs Spragg included jokes about passing MCCANNS glaceries from a restaurant after they visited to get DNA, the court heard.

Giving evidence from behind a privacy screen, Grs McCann confirmed she was depressed after talking about her DNA trail, in December 2024

She said she felt “invaded in her own home”, while Mr McCann, who arrived a short time later, told the court:

Wandelt has appeared on Dr Phil in the US, which prosecutors say has kept his Public Profile hidden, and plans to make further media appearances on his return to the UK if the subjects are arrested in February 2025.

During cross-examination, Wandelt said it was “50-50” about Madeleine, despite police DNA testing proving it wasn’t her.

He questioned the reliability of the DNA results when told of the results at HMP PEDRAVOROO on 1 April this year, and asked to see “the whole document”.