A Polish woman who spent years claiming she was Madeleine McCann has been found guilty of harassing the missing girl’s parents, but cleared of the more serious stalking charge. The verdict at Leicester Crown Court on November 7, 2025, concluded a five‑week trial that laid bare a two‑year campaign of unwanted contact.
Julia Wandelt, 24, from Lubin, Poland, began telling anyone who would listen in June 2022 that she was Madeleine, the British child who vanished from a Portuguese holiday resort in 2007. Prosecutors said she went on to inundate Kate and Gerry McCann with messages, voicemails, phone calls, visits and demands for a DNA test.
The jury delivered a split verdict: guilty of harassment, not guilty of stalking. Wandelt reacted emotionally in court as the foreman read the decision. She was sentenced to six months’ custody, a term effectively already served while on remand since her arrest in February 2025.
What was the verdict in the Julia Wandelt case?
Guilty of Harassment
Cleared of the more serious charge of stalking.
Julia Wandelt
24-year-old Polish national at time of verdict.
Kate and Gerry McCann
Parents of missing Madeleine McCann.
November 7, 2025
Date of the verdict at Leicester Crown Court.
Key insights from the trial
- The jury found that Wandelt’s conduct amounted to harassment but did not cross the legal threshold for stalking.
- The McCanns publicly stated they take “no pleasure in the result,” emphasising the painful nature of the proceedings.
- Wandelt was arrested at Bristol Airport in February 2025 after police took a DNA sample – a step that became part of the case background.
- Deportation and restraining orders were issued alongside the prison term, reflecting concerns about future harassment risk.
- Her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, was acquitted of all charges.
- The case highlights the psychological toll on families of missing persons when their tragedy is exploited for personal attention.
Key facts at a glance
| Fact |
|---|
| Julia Wandelt, 24, from Poland, was on trial at Leicester Crown Court. |
| She was convicted of harassing Kate and Gerry McCann over a two-year period. |
| Wandelt was found not guilty of the alternative charge of stalking. |
| She began making claims of being Madeleine McCann in June 2022. |
| Wandelt was arrested at Bristol Airport on suspicion of stalking and harassment. |
| She was sentenced to six months in custody, already served on remand. |
| A deportation order and a restraining order were made by the judge. |
Who is Julia Wandelt and what did she do?
Wandelt first drew public attention in 2022 when she began claiming she was Madeleine McCann. She posted videos, gave interviews and approached the McCann family directly. The court heard that her contact escalated into a “campaign of harassment” that lasted more than two years, involving repeated messages, phone calls, unsolicited visits and demands for a DNA comparison.
The nature of the harassment
Prosecutors detailed how Wandelt inundated the McCanns with communications, sometimes showing up unannounced. The couple told the court they felt “exhausted and distressed” by the persistent contact. Despite their requests for her to stop, Wandelt continued, leading to her arrest at Bristol Airport in February 2025.
What did the court hear about her claims?
Evidence showed that Wandelt told anyone who would listen that she was Madeleine McCann. She repeatedly asked the McCanns for a DNA test. The couple said they felt used and that her actions added a new layer of pain to their already traumatic experience. The jury heard that Wandelt’s behaviour was sustained and deliberate, but they stopped short of finding it amounted to stalking.
Under UK law, harassment involves a course of conduct that alarms or causes distress; stalking requires a pattern of behaviour that causes fear of violence or serious alarm. The jury accepted the former but not the latter, a distinction that shaped the split verdict.
Why did Julia Wandelt believe she was Madeleine McCann?
The question of motive loomed large during the trial. Wandelt’s defence team did not provide a single explanation, but reports suggest she had watched a Netflix documentary about Madeleine McCann and became convinced of a connection. A former confidant described how she would pore over childhood photographs, insisting she saw herself.
Background to the claims
Wandelt’s public statements began in June 2022 on social media. She said she had “memories” of being taken from a hotel room. She travelled to the UK and made direct contact with the McCanns. The couple eventually referred the matter to the police, who investigated and charged her. A BBC article from 2022 explored the psychological factors behind her belief, noting she had a history of emotional struggles.
There is no evidence to support Wandelt’s claim of being Madeleine McCann. DNA tests conducted after her arrest did not match the McCann family. The case is one of several instances in which individuals have falsely asserted connections to high-profile missing persons.
What happens next for Julia Wandelt and the McCanns?
With the verdict delivered, the immediate consequences are clear: Wandelt has been sentenced to six months’ custody, which she has already served while on remand. However, further legal steps are pending.
Sentence and orders
Reports confirm she was sentenced to six months in custody, effectively time served. The judge also made a deportation order and a restraining order, meaning Wandelt will likely be returned to Poland once released. She is expected to be subject to indefinite prohibitions on contacting the McCanns.
Potential appeal
It is not yet known whether Wandelt will appeal the harassment conviction. Her legal team has not made a public statement. The McCanns’ lawyer said the family simply wanted the harassment to stop and hope Wandelt receives appropriate care and support.
The deportation order means Wandelt will be removed from the UK after serving her sentence. The restraining order prohibits any future contact with Kate and Gerry McCann. Both measures aim to prevent a repeat of the two-year harassment campaign.
Timeline: When did the harassment begin and what were the key events?
- – Madeleine McCann goes missing in Portugal.
- – Julia Wandelt begins telling people she is Madeleine McCann.
- – The alleged harassment campaign begins, with repeated contacts.
- – Wandelt is arrested at Bristol Airport on suspicion of stalking and harassment; DNA sample taken.
- – Jury finds Wandelt guilty of harassment, not guilty of stalking, at Leicester Crown Court.
- – Judge sentences her to six months’ custody (time served) and issues deportation and restraining orders.
What is known and what remains unclear about the case?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Julia Wandelt was found guilty of harassment. | The exact sentence Wandelt will serve beyond time already served – though she has been given six months custody time-served. |
| She was found not guilty of stalking. | The specific details of every communication and visit that made up the harassment. |
| The verdict was delivered at Leicester Crown Court. | Whether Wandelt will appeal the conviction. |
| The McCanns are the victims in the case. | The precise timeline of every event in the two-year campaign. |
What does the verdict mean for the case and for families of missing persons?
The split verdict – guilty of harassment, not guilty of stalking – reflects the fine legal line between the two offences. Harassment covers a course of conduct that causes alarm or distress, while stalking requires a more specific pattern that induces fear. Legal experts say the outcome shows juries are willing to distinguish degrees of persistent behaviour.
For the McCanns, the conclusion of the trial brings a degree of closure but also fresh pain. In their public statement, they said they “take no pleasure” in the result and simply wanted the harassment to stop. The case underscores the vulnerability of families of high-profile missing persons to exploitation and attention-seeking.
Wandelt’s behaviour fits a broader pattern seen in several missing‑persons cases where individuals claim a connection for personal notoriety or emotional reasons. The BBC’s earlier analysis noted that such claims often attract online followers and can cause significant harm to the actual families.
What are the key sources in the case?
The following sources provided the foundation for reporting on the verdict and trial:
“Despite the guilty verdict, they ‘take no pleasure in the result.’”
— Kate and Gerry McCann, reported by BBC News
“Julia Wandelt, 24, from Poland, was cleared by a jury at Leicester Crown Court of stalking but convicted of harassing Kate and Gerry McCann over a two-year period.”
— Sky News
“Julia Wandelt began ‘telling anyone who would listen’ she was the missing child in June 2022.”
— BBC News
What is the latest news on Julia Wandelt?
Julia Wandelt has been sentenced to six months in custody, effectively time served, and faces deportation to Poland. She is subject to a restraining order that forbids any contact with Kate and Gerry McCann. The criminal case is closed, but the psychological and legal aftermath continues for all involved. For further reading, see the coverage of Bob Vylan – US Visa Revoked After Glastonbury Chants, a related UK legal controversy, and the biographical profile of Scott Mills – Biography, BBC Dismissal and Career Timeline.
Frequently asked questions about Julia Wandelt
Who is the woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann?
She is Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old from Lubin, Poland.
What did Julia Wandelt do to the McCanns?
She was found guilty of a two-year campaign of harassment that included messages, calls, visits and demands for a DNA test.
Did Julia Wandelt go to jail for harassing the McCanns?
She received a six-month sentence, which she had already served while on remand, and was released on the day of sentencing.
What happened to Julia Wandelt at Bristol Airport?
She was arrested by police on suspicion of stalking and harassment in February 2025.
Why did Julia Wandelt believe she was Madeleine McCann?
The court heard she became convinced after watching a Netflix documentary and studying childhood photographs.
What was Julia Wandelt’s sentence?
Six months in custody (time served), plus a deportation order and a restraining order.
Was Julia Wandelt found guilty of stalking?
No. She was acquitted of stalking but convicted of harassment.
What did the McCanns say about the verdict?
They said they take “no pleasure” in the outcome and hoped Wandelt would receive appropriate support.
Will Julia Wandelt be deported?
Yes. The judge issued a deportation order, so she will be sent back to Poland after completing her sentence.
Can Julia Wandelt appeal the conviction?
It is unclear at this stage whether her legal team will pursue an appeal. No application has been announced.
Related stories
Philip Rowe is Senior Reporter at UKBullet.uk, covering breaking UK news stories.