Alleged Harasser Questioned: 'But What If I Am Madeleine?'

Courtroom sketch
Karen Spragg - who a court has heard believes she is disappeared Madeleine McCann - contest the accusations

A female charged with stalking Kate McCann reportedly recorded her a phone message which posed: "what if I am Madeleine?"

Julia Wandelt, 24, who a jury heard has repeatedly claimed she was the vanished Madeleine McCann, and Karen Spragg are standing trial accused with harassing Kate and Gerry McCann from June 2022 and February this year.

Madeleine McCann photo
Madeleine McCann's disappearance has not yet been resolved

On Monday, the tribunal heard phone records and data retrieved from phones documented Ms Wandelt consistently requesting Madeleine's mother for a biological test throughout 2023 and 2024.

Madeleine's case in 2007 - at the age of three during a trip in Portugal - is one of the most publicized missing child cases and remains unresolved.

'I Am Not Seeking Money'

One recorded message, shared in court, captured Ms Wandelt saying: "I realize I'm heavy and plain like Madeleine used to be, but I believe what I know."

While another instance of Ms Wandelt's recordings with Mrs McCann's answerphone said: "What if there is a tiny probability that I'm her? What then? Is that not important for you?"

"I do not need money, I maintain a existence here in Poland, I only wish to discover," the recording stated.

The jury was advised that by means of electronic messages, SMS messages and calls, Ms Wandelt requested a DNA test, sent youth pictures to her phone in a effort to display a likeness to Mrs McCann's missing daughter, and claimed to have "recollections" from a youth with the McCanns.

Robert Jones, an investigator with Leicestershire Police who gathered the evidence, told the court there "didn't appear to be any responses" from Mrs McCann.

Ms Wandelt also reached out to family friends of the McCanns, as per the communication logs.

On October 9th, 2024, Gerry McCann responded to a communication from Ms Wandelt to his wife's phone, saying she had "the wrong phone."

During that incident Ms Wandelt deposited a recording on Mrs McCann's answerphone saying "I will continue and I plan to establish my position."

Court proceedings
Kate and Gerry McCann provided testimony to the court from using a security measure on Wednesday

The court was informed Mrs Spragg developed a association through digital means with Ms Wandelt before joining her on a trip to the McCanns' residence in the county in that winter.

Call logs showed Mrs Spragg had communicated through messaging service to Mrs McCann to say the press had depicted Ms Wandelt as "a crazy person" but that she deserved to be taken seriously in the months before the appearance to Rothley, that area, in last December.

The court heard message exchanges between the two defendants, in last November, planning attempting to get Mrs McCann's DNA samples from her trash or from cutlery at a eating establishment.

"We must make a stand," Mrs Spragg informed Ms Wandelt.

On the night of the trip to their home, the defendant dispatched a communication which said: "We find ourselves sitting outside the McCanns' home with our vehicle dark resembling detectives. I wanted to achieve this with another person I never thought I would be engaged in this with the McCanns."

The trial continues.

Alexa Cowan
Alexa Cowan

Lena is a tech enthusiast and writer passionate about exploring how digital innovations impact everyday life and personal development.