Julia Wandelt, who claimed to be missing Madeleine McCann, sent ‘disturbing and upsetting’ messages to a couple who were on the same Portugal holiday when Madeleine vanished, a court heard
A woman accused of stalking Madeleine McCann’s family sent a series of “disturbing” messages to a couple who were in Portugal when the tot vanished, the trial has heard.
Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg are on trial at Leicester Crown Court charged with stalking Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann. Prosecutors say Wandelt fuelled false claims that she was Madeleine – who disappeared in 2007 during a family holiday – and repeatedly contacted Kate and Gerry through emails and phone calls, even turning up at their address between June 2022 and February this year.
This week, the trail heard a DNA test taken from Wandelt “conclusively proved” she was not the missing girl. DCI Cranwell, who has worked on Operation Grange as the senior investigating officer since 2018, said: “I told her, ‘A sample was taken whilst you were in custody in February. Your sample was submitted to the laboratory and a profile was established. This has now been compared to the profile of Madeleine McCann. You are not Madeleine McCann”.
Here is what was heard in court today…
‘Disturbing messages’ to couple who were in Portugal with McCanns
Wandelt sent disturbing messages to a couple who were on the same Portugal holiday when Madeleine vanished, the trial heard. Jurors were told the alleged stalker also got in touch with the daughter of David and Fiona Payne, who they say has been “adversely impacted” by the girl’s disappearance.
Mr and Mrs Payne, described as being “very close friends” to the McCanns for around 25 years, gave evidence in court on Wednesday and said Wandelt called and messaged them both last year, and even sent friend requests and messages to their daughter – a move Mrs Payne said made her “angry”.
She said: “It’s really difficult actually. I think she’s a vulnerable young adult who has been adversely affected by Madeleine’s disappearance. She has the good sense to ignore these messages. I feel angry actually that she (Wandelt) sought to manipulate her in that way.”
Speaking about the nature of the messages the family received, Mrs Payne told the court: “It’s disturbing. We have had a lot of contact from various people over the years, reporters and the like wanting information or people with conspiracy theories, however we have never been contacted by anyone who thinks they could be Madeleine.”
Wandelt told Tapas Seven family ‘this could clear your names’
In one message, Wandelt, from Lubin in south-west Poland, suggested that if she did a DNA test with the McCanns, members of the “tapas group”, also known as the ‘Tapas Seven’, could “clear your names”, the court heard. Recordings of two phone calls between Wandelt and Mr Payne on October 8 and 9 last year were played to the court. In one of them, Wandelt is heard to say: “Please connect me with Kate and Gerry. Operation Grange threatened me and I never lied.”
In a call the next day, the alleged stalker asked for a DNA test before Mr Payne said: “I don’t know who you are.” Wandelt replied: “I’m Julia Wandelt. I’m trying everywhere. All doors are closed. I truly believe I might be Madeleine.” Mr Payne told the jury: “I get a lot of phone calls and when you get someone ringing up in such a nature, it’s quite upsetting. I feel there was nothing I could provide during that conversation, as I alluded to.”
After the call, Wandelt wrote to Mr Payne: “I could hear the sadness in your voice David. You are literally the only person connected to Kate and Gerry McCann who answered my call and spoke with me a little bit. You are my only hope David, help me please.” In another message she said: “This could end your years of trauma and criticism too. As a member of the tapas group you could clear your names. I can send all my evidence for review if you can find the strength to help me.”
The court heard the 24-year-old also asked for the McCanns’ blood groups, saying: “I was given so many medications as a child… some can cause memory loss. I was given big doses of those medications. Can you look at my medical records and give your opinion? I believe it’s possible it was attempted murder because I was given huge doses of medication.”
Alleged stalker ‘had unseen photos of McCann and Payne family’
Mr Payne told the court he was both “surprised and concerned” over Wandelt having photos of the McCann and Payne families which had not been made public. She wrote to the family in a message: “I’m not going to publish them because I respect the privacy of you, your daughters and the McCann family. These were never published by Kate and Gerry. Someone close to them believes me.”
On Christmas Eve last year, Wandelt sent Mr Payne a message which said “Merry Christmas David. The truth will set you all free”, with a snowflake emoji, the court heard.
Wandelt and her co-defendant 61-year-old Karen Spragg, of Caerau Court Road in Caerau, Cardiff, both deny one count of stalking.
