Polish woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann convicted of harassing missing UK girl’s parents

A Polish woman, Julia Wandelt, was convicted on Friday for pretending to be missing Madeleine McCann, a UK girl who vanished at the age of 3 in 2007 while on vacation in Portugal. Wandelt was found guilty of harassing Kate and Gerry McCann for over two years, claiming to be their missing daughter. She even approached Kate McCann outside her home and sent her a distressing letter addressed to “mum.”

Wandelt was sentenced to six months in prison, the maximum allowed for harassment, which she has already served since her arrest earlier this year. However, she was cleared of the more serious charge of stalking the McCanns, despite the judge acknowledging her constant pestering and badgering. There was unequivocal scientific evidence proving she could not be their missing daughter, who would now be 22.

Karen Spragg, a woman who supported Wandelt’s false claims, was also cleared of stalking. The McCanns expressed no pleasure in the guilty verdict and hoped Wandelt would receive the care and support she needs. They emphasized that their primary goal was to stop the harassment and urged anyone with new evidence related to Madeleine’s disappearance to contact the police.

During the sentencing hearing, the judge acknowledged Wandelt’s rough upbringing but stated that her family history did not justify her behavior. Wandelt testified that she never intended to harm the McCanns and felt sympathy for them, believing she could be the missing girl because they were both searching for their loved ones.

Prosecutors revealed that Wandelt had previously claimed to be two other missing children. Madeleine’s parents continue to campaign for their daughter’s return and issue statements on the anniversary of her disappearance. The main suspect in her case was released from a German prison in September after serving a seven-year sentence for an unrelated sex crime.

The McCanns hope that Wandelt will receive the necessary support and care, and they continue to seek justice for their missing daughter. The search for Madeleine McCann remains ongoing, with her parents determined to find answers and bring her home.