DNA test ‘proves’ McCann family’s alleged stalker is not Madeleine

DNA samples taken by police from the alleged stalker of the McCann family have ‘conclusively’ shown that she is not Madeleine.

Jurors at Leicester Crown Court were told that 24-year-old Julia Wandelt’s DNA was taken after she was arrested at Bristol Airport in February this year in an attempt to ‘stop her behaviour’ towards the youngster’s family.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell said that 12 people have claimed to be the missing girl, but their DNA samples were not taken because it may ‘set a precedent’.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Cranwell said: ‘We would not take DNA unless we believed that person was Madeleine because I did not want to set a precedent.

‘If it became known in the media I had taken DNA off an individual quite likely not to be Madeleine, I was concerned I would have had a lot of people coming forward saying ‘I’m Madeleine’.’

He added that his own assessment was that Wandelt, from Lubin in south-west Poland, was not Madeleine because her eye pigment was in a different place, she had different coloured irises and was two years older than the missing girl.

Mr Cranwell added: ‘I was aware Leicestershire Police were likely to be arresting her at some point. I made the decision that the DNA would be taken upon arrest.

‘A comparison took place. It conclusively proved that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.

‘There’s a possibility she will never accept she’s not Madeleine even when provided with scientific proof.’

Prosecutors allege the Polish national peddled the myth that she was Madeleine while stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, by sending emails, making phone calls and turning up at their address between June 2022 and February this year.

In April this year, Mr Cranwell visited Wandelt in custody and told her that her DNA had been compared to Madeleine’s and that the profiles do not match.

The court heard that during their conversation, Wandelt said: ‘Do you really want to find Madeleine?’

Mr Cranwell told the jury he said yes.

When the McCanns were shown a photo of Wandelt, they replied: ‘Confident it’s not Madeleine, although some similarities.’

Wandelt and her co-defendant, 61-year-old Karen Spragg, of Caerau Court Road in Caerau, Cardiff, both deny one count of stalking.

The trial will continue on Wednesday.

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