Julia Wandel, who claims to be Madeleine, is charged with multiple counts of harassment and is set to return for plea proceedings in April 2024.
**Court Appearance for Woman Accused of Stalking McCann Family**
**Court Appearance for Woman Accused of Stalking McCann Family**
A 23-year-old woman faces legal action for allegedly stalking the McCann family regarding the case of missing Madeleine McCann.
Julia Wandel, a 23-year-old woman originally from Poland, appeared in court recently facing four counts of stalking linked to the family of missing girl Madeleine McCann. Notably, Ms. Wandel was detained at Bristol Airport on Wednesday after alleged stalking actions aimed at the McCanns, which reportedly caused them significant alarm and distress.
In her court appearance at Leicester Magistrates' Court, Ms. Wandel was remanded in custody and is scheduled for a plea hearing at the city's crown court on April 7, 2024. Court documents detail that her behavior included sending messages, leaving voicemails, and even visiting the family’s residence on two separate occasions—once on May 2 and again on December 7.
Specifically, the allegations state that between January 3, 2024, and February 15, 2025, Ms. Wandel had sent WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry McCann, as well as Instagram messages directed at Madeleine's siblings. This conduct is claimed to have had a significant adverse effect on the family's daily life, with indications that Ms. Wandel was aware of the distress her actions could potentially cause.
The case of Madeleine McCann, who vanished in Portugal at the age of three in 2007, has drawn considerable media attention worldwide and remains one of the most infamous unresolved missing child investigations to date. Concurrently, a 60-year-old woman from Wales was arrested alongside Ms. Wandel under suspicion of stalking but has since been released on bail, according to Leicestershire Police.
In her court appearance at Leicester Magistrates' Court, Ms. Wandel was remanded in custody and is scheduled for a plea hearing at the city's crown court on April 7, 2024. Court documents detail that her behavior included sending messages, leaving voicemails, and even visiting the family’s residence on two separate occasions—once on May 2 and again on December 7.
Specifically, the allegations state that between January 3, 2024, and February 15, 2025, Ms. Wandel had sent WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry McCann, as well as Instagram messages directed at Madeleine's siblings. This conduct is claimed to have had a significant adverse effect on the family's daily life, with indications that Ms. Wandel was aware of the distress her actions could potentially cause.
The case of Madeleine McCann, who vanished in Portugal at the age of three in 2007, has drawn considerable media attention worldwide and remains one of the most infamous unresolved missing child investigations to date. Concurrently, a 60-year-old woman from Wales was arrested alongside Ms. Wandel under suspicion of stalking but has since been released on bail, according to Leicestershire Police.
