A trial concerning the alleged stalking of Madeleine McCann’s family unfolded with the revelation of a dramatic phone call between the police and a woman who purportedly claimed to be the missing girl.
Julia Wandelt, 24, and Karen Spragg, 61, facing accusations of stalking the McCann family, were confronted with a startling phone conversation played in court. Detective Constable Mark Draycott, a former member of Operation Grange, recounted being contacted by Wandelt in June 2022. Wandelt, a Polish national, allegedly asserted that she is Madeleine and was trafficked to Poland at a young age.
DC Draycott reiterated five direct words to Wandelt, echoing the sentiments expressed by other witnesses.
Testifying before the Leicester Crown Court, DC Draycott explained that Operation Grange, the investigative unit he served on from 2011 to March, was established to unravel the mystery surrounding Madeleine McCann’s disappearance during a family vacation in Portugal in 2007.
Following an assessment that Wandelt was not the missing girl, the detective phoned her to deliver the message: “You are not Madeleine McCann.”
In the recorded call played for the jurors, DC Draycott firmly stated, “All I’m going to say is, you are not Madeleine McCann, okay? I know that’s hard to hear.”
He also clarified that conducting a DNA test was not feasible due to budget constraints, emphasizing, “We are not testing DNA. We can’t spend public money on something like this. We know that you are not Madeleine McCann.”
Addressing Wandelt’s persistent claims, he added, “You need to accept that you have loving parents and family back home. They are your family. You are not Kate and Gerry’s daughter.”
During her court appearance, Kate McCann, Madeleine’s mother, expressed her disbelief in Wandelt’s claims, stating that she never considered taking the DNA test requested by the defendant due to the overwhelming evidence against it. Wandelt’s emotional response in court further underscored the gravity of the situation.
Wandelt, a Polish national, is currently standing trial for allegedly stalking the McCanns over a period exceeding two and a half years while asserting she is the missing girl.
Accompanying her in court as a co-accused is Karen Spragg from Cardiff, facing charges of stalking involving serious alarm or distress. Allegations against Spragg include making calls, sending letters, and visiting the McCann’s residence. The trial is ongoing.
