Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg are on trial accused of stalking the McCann family, with Wandelt, 24, sending messages to Amelie via social media, claiming to be Madeleine
A detective who worked on the Madeleine McCann missing person investigation has revealed how an alleged “stalker” provided police with “eight reasons” why she believed she was the missing child.
Leicester Crown Court has heard evidence in the trial of two women – Julia Wandelt, 24, and Karen Spragg, 61 – who stand accused of stalking the McCann family. One of the detectives involved in the £13million Scotland Yard investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance gave testimony about his contact with the defendants.
Detective Constable Mark Draycott, who served on Operation Grange, told the court that Wandelt – who allegedly claimed to be Madeleine – reached out to him in June 2022.
The detective told jurors that the 24-year-old telephoned him asserting she was the missing child, who vanished during a family break in Portugal in 2007.
DC Draycott explained to the court that Operation Grange, which he was part of from 2011 to March, was established “to try to discover what happened to Madeleine McCann”. He testified that the Polish woman emailed him with “eight reasons why I could be Maddie” along with photographs of herself.
Following his conversation with Wandelt, Draycott compiled a police report concluding “this girl is not Madeleine McCann”. His report noted that the Polish national “has different eye features, is not Madeleine’s age and seems to have mental health problems”.
The detective revealed he subsequently contacted her “to reassure her she was not Madeleine McCann”.
He informed the court: “We used our professional expertise from studying the photos to say she was not Madeleine McCann. She was relieved to know she was not Madeleine McCann.”
During a telephone conversation with Wandelt that was played before the court, the detective informed the woman there would be no DNA testing. In the call, he stated: “We are not testing DNA. We can’t spend public money on something like this.
“We know that you are not Madeleine McCann. You are not the first person. We are happy, we are satisfied – the team that work on this investigation – that you are not Madeleine McCann.”
The court also heard testimony from Revenant Robert Gladstone, the vicar of Rothley Parish Church, today (October 10). The clergyman said he has been acquainted with the McCann family since Madeleine disappeared.
Rev Gladstone told the court he encountered Wandelt at a vigil last year marking the anniversary of the disappearance. He said: “She said she was Madeleine. She said her real parents were in fact Kate and Gerry McCann.
“Pretty instantly, from what I know of Gerry and Kate, and seeing Sean and Amelie grow up over the years, her physique bore no resemblance to the McCann family. I could see no way she was related.”
Polish national Wandelt is standing trial accused of stalking the McCanns for over two and a half years whilst allegedly claiming she was the missing girl.
She stands trial alongside fellow defendant Karen Spragg, from Cardiff, who faces a single count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, following allegations that she made phone calls, sent letters and visited the McCann’s home.
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