McCann Family details ‘Creepy’ Stalking Ordeal in Court
LONDON - Madeleine mccann’s siblings, Amelie and Sean McCann, testified in court this week detailing the unsettling experiences of being allegedly stalked by Julia Wandelt, a Polish national, and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff. The pair deny stalking charges.
Amelie McCann told the court Wandelt’s persistent contact across social media and through letters sent to her family home was “quite scary because you don’t know what she’ll do next.” Messages from Wandelt were presented as evidence, revealing claims of recovered memories from within the mccann household, accessed through hypnosis.
“It’s quite disturbing that she’s coming up with these supposed memories, even though she’s not Madeleine,” Amelie stated. “It makes me feel quite uncomfortable because it is quite creepy that she’s giving those details and trying to play with my emotions and memories, saying that something happened.” Despite Wandelt’s assertions, Amelie maintained she did not believe the claims, noting the “sound of desperation” in the messages caused her significant stress.”I didn’t find it persuasive, but it makes you feel quite guilty because she’s so desperate to connect,” she added, “I knew deep down it wasn’t Madeleine.”
The court also heard evidence of digitally altered images created by Wandelt, some generated using ChatGPT, depicting herself and Amelie as children.These images were shared via social media and sent as printed photographs in letters delivered to the McCanns’ home. Amelie described the images as “disturbing,” noting Wandelt had “clearly edited the pictures to make me look more like her.”
Amelie further testified about the impact on her mother, Kate McCann, who previously gave evidence regarding confrontations with Wandelt and Spragg at their home. “I think my mum found it the hardest…[She] was harassed by Julia more than the rest of us and I think it definately took its toll on her and her wellbeing,” Amelie said. She described her mother as “very stressed and on edge” due to Wandelt’s claims of being her daughter.
Sean McCann stated he had not been personally affected to the same degree, but was distressed by negative online commentary directed at his parents. He expressed concern that if Wandelt was aware her claims were false, it would be “very upsetting.” “I do not believe she is my sister,” he affirmed, adding the situation had caused him “a great deal of stress and I find it deeply disturbing.”
The trial continues.
