Alleged McCann stalker's 'sympathy for family'

AN ALLEGED stalker who claimed to be Madeleine McCann has told a court she has "sympathy" for the girl's family who are still looking for the missing child 18 years later.

- SOPHIE ROBINSON and ELLIE CRABB

Polish national Julia Wandelt, 24, gave evidence claiming the family had been "misled" about Madeleine's case by police, who are still "abusing cases".

Wandelt, from Lubin in southwest Poland, is alleged to have peddled the myth she is Madeleine, who disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007, while stalking Kate and Gerry McCann by sending emails, making calls and turning up at their home.

During her evidence at Leicester Crown Court on Monday, she told jurors: "I actually even have sympathy for them (the McCanns).

"Even though I am in prison for eight months, because they look for their child and I look for my parents."

She added that she "can't imagine" how it feels for them as their daughter's case remains unsolved.

Wandelt said: "But three years of finding out my journey and who I am it feels like ages, so actually I can't imagine..."

Asked by her lawyer Tom Price KC if she disliked Mr and Mrs McCann, she said: "No, I always defended them, I still even now defend them." She said she "never" meant any harm to the family.