Julia Wandel claims to be Madeleine McCann and appeared in court facing multiple stalking charges.
Court Appearance for Woman Allegedly Stalking McCann Family
Court Appearance for Woman Allegedly Stalking McCann Family
A woman has been charged with stalking the family of missing girl Madeleine McCann.
A woman accused of stalking the family of missing child Madeleine McCann, has appeared in court on four counts of stalking, which allegedly caused serious alarm and distress. Julia Wandel, who also identifies as Julia Wandelt, was apprehended at Bristol Airport on Wednesday. During her initial hearing at Leicester Magistrates' Court, she was remanded into custody and is scheduled to enter a plea at the city’s crown court on April 7.
Court records reveal that the 23-year-old, originally from Poland, engaged in alarming behavior directed at Kate and Gerry McCann over a significant period. Between January 3, 2024, and February 15, 2025, she is said to have repeatedly sent messages, left voicemails, and made two visits to the McCanns' home in Leicestershire on May 2 and December 7. Additionally, she allegedly sent WhatsApp messages to the parents and Instagram messages to Madeleine's siblings, causing "substantial adverse effects" on the family's daily life.
The case comes in the backdrop of Madeleine McCann’s poignant disappearance in 2007, at the age of three, during a family vacation in Portugal, a case that has drawn international attention and continued speculation. In a related incident, a 60-year-old woman from Wales was arrested alongside Wandel on suspicion of stalking but has since been released on bail, according to Leicestershire Police.
Court records reveal that the 23-year-old, originally from Poland, engaged in alarming behavior directed at Kate and Gerry McCann over a significant period. Between January 3, 2024, and February 15, 2025, she is said to have repeatedly sent messages, left voicemails, and made two visits to the McCanns' home in Leicestershire on May 2 and December 7. Additionally, she allegedly sent WhatsApp messages to the parents and Instagram messages to Madeleine's siblings, causing "substantial adverse effects" on the family's daily life.
The case comes in the backdrop of Madeleine McCann’s poignant disappearance in 2007, at the age of three, during a family vacation in Portugal, a case that has drawn international attention and continued speculation. In a related incident, a 60-year-old woman from Wales was arrested alongside Wandel on suspicion of stalking but has since been released on bail, according to Leicestershire Police.
