Alleged stalker intended to approach McCanns at vigil

SHE SIGNED A LETTER TO FAMILY 'LOTS OF LOVE, MADELEINE', COURT TOLD

- By STAFF REPORTER

A WOMAN accused of stalking the McCanns turned up at the family home and signed a letter addressed to them as Madeleine.

Jurors heard Julia Wandelt, 24, from Lubin in southwest Poland, who claimed to be the missing girl, also discussed with co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, the possibility of stealing bags of rubbish from the family's home to get DNA samples.

Wandelt and Spragg, of Caerau Court Road, in Caerau, Cardiff, both deny a count of stalking causing serious alarm and distress to Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February this year.

Continuing the prosecution's opening at Leicester Crown Court yesterday, Michael Duck KC said Mrs McCann was “unnerved” when they both waited outside her home last year and “tried to force a letter” into her hand. Mr Duck told the jury: “She told Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg they were causing distress and they should leave the property.”