Madeleine McCann Detectives to Testify Against Woman

Published: 10 October 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

Detectives who once worked on the high-profile disappearance of Madeleine McCann are expected to testify against a woman accused of stalking the missing girl’s family. The trial, held at Leicester Crown Court, focuses on 24-year-old Julia Wandelt from Lubin, south-west Poland, who has repeatedly claimed to be Madeleine or to possess memories of being abducted as a child.

Prosecutors allege that between June 2022 and February 2025, Wandelt harassed Kate and Gerry McCann by sending disturbing messages, altered photographs, and unfounded claims. The Crown contends that her communications were invasive, manipulative, and deeply distressing for the family, reopening old wounds from a tragedy that has haunted them for nearly two decades.

According to prosecutor Nadia Silver, Wandelt sent digitally edited selfies designed to resemble Madeleine’s appearance, alongside messages claiming to share childhood memories and requesting a DNA test. “Her messages were deeply intrusive,” Silver told the court. “They suggested fabricated childhood experiences, designed to convince the family of her false identity.”

Madeleine’s younger sister, Amelie McCann, now 20, gave emotional testimony about the ordeal. She told jurors that her mother became fearful for their safety and installed a panic alarm at their home after Wandelt appeared at the property in December 2024. “My mum was terrified,” Amelie said. “We didn’t know what she was capable of. It felt like our privacy had been stolen all over again.”

The alleged incident on December 7, when Wandelt reportedly showed up uninvited at the McCanns’ home, marked a turning point. Police were called, and Wandelt was arrested soon after on suspicion of harassment and stalking. The prosecution asserts that despite being told to stop, she continued sending messages and social media posts about the family.

The court heard that Wandelt’s obsession began in early 2023 when she gained widespread social media attention by claiming she was Madeleine McCann. Her posts quickly went viral, attracting millions of views and sparking both sympathy and outrage. However, after a DNA test in 2024 conclusively proved she was not related to the McCann family, Wandelt refused to accept the results.

“Even after scientific proof, she continued to harass the McCanns,” Silver said. “Her actions caused immense emotional harm to a family that has already suffered unimaginable loss.”

Detectives from the original investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance are expected to testify about how false claims and public conspiracies have hindered progress in the case. They will also speak about the damage caused to the McCanns by repeated online hoaxes and individuals exploiting the tragedy for attention.

The McCann family has endured years of speculation, unfounded accusations, and internet abuse since Madeleine vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. At just three years old, she disappeared while her parents dined at a nearby restaurant, triggering one of the largest and most expensive missing persons investigations in modern history.

While the case remains officially open in both the UK and Portugal, and a German man, Christian Brückner, remains a suspect, no definitive evidence has ever been found. For the McCanns, every new false lead or public claim brings fresh pain and unwanted attention.

The prosecution described Wandelt’s conduct as part of a troubling pattern of harassment targeting high-profile victims. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has noted a rise in such cases, where individuals exploit tragedies for fame or emotional manipulation.

Defence lawyer Mark Latham argued that Wandelt did not intend harm, claiming she suffers from mental health issues that impaired her judgment. “Ms Wandelt genuinely believed she might be Madeleine McCann,” he told the court. “Her actions, though distressing, stemmed from confusion and delusion rather than malice.”

Observers say the trial highlights the ongoing tension between social media’s power to spread information and its potential to amplify harmful falsehoods. The McCann case has long attracted online conspiracy theories, with amateur sleuths and opportunists making claims that have repeatedly drawn condemnation from authorities.

As the trial continues, the court is expected to hear from additional detectives and digital experts who analysed Wandelt’s messages and social media activity. Their testimonies will aim to establish whether her behaviour meets the threshold of criminal stalking and harassment.

For the McCann family, this case represents yet another painful chapter in a story that has never found closure. The family, once again thrust into the public eye, continues to hope that justice will prevail—not only in court, but in how their story is treated by the world.