Stalking of Madeleine McCann parents 'cruel and unforgiving' - court

A POLISH woman who falsely claimed to be Madeleine McCann is extremely manipulative and "tormented" the missing girl's parents during a "cruel" stalking campaign, the prosecutor at her trial has claimed.

- MATTHEW COOPER

Julia Wandelt is accused of peddling the myth that she is Madeleine, who disappeared aged three in Portugal in 2007, while stalking Kate and Gerry McCann by sending emails, leaving voicemails and turning up at their home between June 2022 and February this year.

In his closing speech to jurors on Monday, Crown counsel Michael Duck KC accused Wandelt and co-defendant Karen Spragg of trying to "impose their will" on the McCann family despite knowing that their actions in relation to the couple were wrong.

Part of the alleged stalking had been "cruel and unforgiving", Mr Duck said, telling Leicester Crown Court: "This case is about Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg individually and subsequently as a team causing very significant distress to Kate and Gerry McCann."