Madeleine McCann’s parents received distressing voicemails from an alleged stalker claiming to be their missing daughter.
Julia Wandelt, 24, from Lubin in south-west Poland, left voicemails to Madeleine’s mum Kate McCann, including ‘What if I’m her?’, over a period of months, Leicester Crown Court heard.
Wandelt and co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, both of Caerau Court Road in Cardiff, were audibly upset, and Spragg had to leave the dock after bursting into tears at the sound of today’s voicemails.
Prosecutors say Wandelt fabricated the story that she was Madeleine – who disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007 – via emails, calls and by turning up at their home between June 2022 and February this year.
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The court heard Wandelt say in recordings: ‘I know you probably think Madeleine’s dead. Well she is not. I really believe I’m her.
‘Help me. Don’t think Madeleine is dead. This is a chance. Please, I beg you.’
In a message, Wandelt allegedly said: ‘You are mummy. You know it’s me. You know I’m not crazy.’
Wandelt was also purported to have called and messaged Mrs McCann more than 60 times on just one day in April last year.
On another occasion, Mrs McCann received five texts from Wandelt within seven seconds, the jury was told.
The Polish national also apparently sent this message to Maddie’s mother at 1am: ‘I don’t understand why you don’t want to do a DNA test.’
Gerry McCann, Madeleine’s dad, once answered the phone last year and told Wandelt: ‘You must have the wrong number’, the court heard, but this did not deter further contact.
In a subsequent voicemail, Wandelt said: ‘I know it was you Gerry. You answered the call. Why is it so hard to answer the call and speak with me?
‘I haven’t done anything wrong. If you’re looking for Madeleine, you should do a test with me.’
Another message provided ‘an example of what I can remember’ from Wandelt about a barbecue when she was a child with other kids.
She claimed she asked Mrs McCann if she could find a ball as a child. The message went on: ‘I cry when I hear your voice. I feel this connection, I don’t know how to explain it.’
The court heard that the ‘last thing’ Wandelt wanted to do was post about her claims of being Maddie to social media but said she was given ‘no choice.’
Wandelt and Spragg both deny one count of stalking.
Today’s hearing has been adjourned and the trial continues.
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