DNA Test Confirms Alleged Stalker Is Not Madeleine McCann

Published: 15 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

A court has heard that a DNA test conclusively proved that an alleged stalker who claimed to be Madeleine McCann was not the missing child, police revealed during a hearing at Leicester Crown Court. Julia Wandelt, 24, is accused of a prolonged campaign of harassment against the McCann family, who have lived under public scrutiny since Madeleine disappeared from Praia da Luz in Portugal in 2007 at the age of three.

The Polish national is alleged to have bombarded Kate and Gerry McCann, along with their adult children Sean and Amelie, with hundreds of calls, messages, voicemails, and letters between 2022 and earlier this year. In addition, she reportedly turned up at their home demanding a DNA test to prove the family’s claim about Madeleine’s disappearance.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, DCI Mark Cranwell, the senior investigating officer on Operation Grange, the long-running investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, told the court that he had taken the unusual step of collecting Wandelt’s DNA. He admitted this action was outside standard procedure, done “in the hope she may stop her behaviour towards the McCann family.”

Cranwell explained that 13 other individuals had previously claimed to be Madeleine, but he noted that DNA tests were only conducted when there was credible reason to believe a person might be the missing girl. “We would not take DNA unless we believed that person was Madeleine because I did not want to set a precedent,” he said. “If it became known in the media that I had taken DNA from someone quite likely not to be Madeleine, I was concerned we would have had numerous others claiming to be her.”

The court heard that the police had initially judged Wandelt not to be Madeleine due to her lack of resemblance to the child and the fact that she was two years older than Madeleine would have been. Nevertheless, Cranwell said that after learning Leicester police intended to arrest Wandelt on stalking charges, he decided it was appropriate to take her DNA upon arrest. “A comparison took place. It conclusively proved that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann,” he told the jury.

Cranwell also described his April visit to Wandelt while she was in custody, during which he informed her that her DNA did not match Madeleine’s. The officer recounted telling her: “You are not Madeleine McCann.” He said Wandelt responded by asking, “Do you really want to find Madeleine?” to which he replied, “Yes.” Despite the result, Cranwell expressed concern that Wandelt “would suggest we have tampered with the sample,” acknowledging the possibility that she might never accept she was not Madeleine, even when faced with scientific proof.

Earlier in the trial, the court heard testimony about the distressing and “creepy” behaviour experienced by the McCann family at the hands of Wandelt and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff. The jury were told that the pair had devised increasingly bizarre plans to obtain Kate McCann’s DNA, including going through bins outside the family home and taking forks from restaurants where the McCanns had eaten.

Prosecutors described Wandelt and Spragg’s actions as a sustained and deliberate campaign of harassment that left the McCanns feeling unsafe in their own home. Witnesses for the prosecution highlighted the psychological toll on the family, noting the fear and anxiety generated by repeated contact, unsolicited correspondence, and the constant threat posed by the pair’s fixation on proving their claims.

Wandelt and Spragg both deny one count of stalking. The trial continues, with the jury expected to hear further evidence about the alleged harassment, including the methods the pair used to pursue the McCanns and the broader context of their behaviour.

Legal experts have noted that the case demonstrates the complexities involved when individuals target high-profile families, particularly in cases involving missing children that attract worldwide attention. The trial also highlights the lengths to which some offenders will go to try to gain DNA evidence, underscoring concerns about privacy, safety, and the emotional well-being of those affected.

The court was told that Operation Grange, which has investigated Madeleine McCann’s disappearance since 2011, maintains strict procedures regarding DNA collection and testing. DCI Cranwell explained that his decision to test Wandelt’s DNA was exceptional, balancing the need to protect the family with the potential risks of setting a precedent for other false claims. “I genuinely have major concerns about approaching the family to say I intend to take DNA from an individual – that could have raised their hopes. It could have been quite emotionally damaging and difficult for the family,” he said.

Throughout the proceedings, the jury has been presented with extensive evidence, including communication logs, witness statements, and detailed accounts of Wandelt and Spragg’s alleged attempts to compel the family to provide DNA. Prosecutors have stressed that the harassment extended beyond mere letters and messages, encompassing behaviour designed to intimidate and unsettle the McCanns.

The trial has also drawn attention to the psychological dimensions of stalking, particularly when the perpetrators are motivated by a belief that they are connected to a high-profile missing person case. Experts in forensic psychology have commented on the persistent delusions and obsessional behaviour displayed by individuals in similar cases, noting that victims often experience long-term anxiety and stress as a result.

As proceedings continue, the court will consider both the evidence of stalking and the broader context of the alleged actions, including the potential impact on the McCann family. Legal observers suggest that the outcome could set an important precedent in cases where harassment intersects with high-profile missing persons investigations, particularly concerning the collection of DNA evidence and the limits of protective measures for families in the public eye.

The trial is ongoing, and both the prosecution and defence are expected to present further witnesses and evidence in the coming weeks. The jury will ultimately determine whether Wandelt and Spragg engaged in a deliberate campaign of harassment, and whether their actions constitute stalking under UK law.