False McCann Claimant Convicted of Family Harassment.

**Woman Who Claimed to Be Madeleine McCann Found Guilty of Harassment**

False McCann Claimant Convicted of Family Harassme...

Leicester, England – Julia Wandelt, the Polish woman who sparked a global media frenzy after claiming to be Madeleine McCann, the British girl who vanished in Portugal in 2007, has been found guilty of harassing the McCann family. The verdict, delivered by a jury at Leicester Crown Court on Friday, brings a measure of closure to a bizarre and emotionally charged case that has further compounded the McCanns' enduring grief.

Wandelt, also known as Julia Wandelt,

Wandelt, also known as Julia Wandelt, rose to prominence in 2023 after launching a social media campaign showcasing alleged physical similarities between herself and the missing child. Her claims, largely based on side-by-side comparisons of physical features, quickly gained traction online, fueled by conspiracy theories and speculation. The campaign culminated in Wandelt traveling from Poland to the McCanns' home in England in December 2024, where she reportedly demanded a DNA test to prove her identity.

While the jury acquitted Wandelt of stalking, they found her guilty of harassment. Justice Johannah Cutts sentenced her to six months in prison, a term already served due to her pre-trial detention since February. Addressing Wandelt directly, Justice Cutts acknowledged evidence of a difficult childhood but emphasized that it did not justify her actions. "It has been confirmed in this case you are not Madeleine McCann," she stated, adding that there was no "proper or logical basis" for Wandelt's behavior.

Justice Cutts highlighted the profound suffering the McCanns have endured since their daughter's disappearance, emphasizing that Wandelt's "constant pestering, badgering and eventually attendance at their home address…was unwarranted." She granted a restraining order against Wandelt, indefinitely banning her from Leicestershire, where the McCanns reside, and ordering the forfeiture and destruction of her phones. Justice Cutts deemed Wandelt a "significant risk" of future harassment.

The case also involved Karen Spragg,

The case also involved Karen Spragg, a 61-year-old Welsh woman who supported Wandelt and was accused of stalking and harassment. Spragg was found not guilty, with Justice Cutts noting that she viewed Wandelt "as the victim and not the McCanns," indulging in conspiracy theories.

Following the sentencing, Wandelt was taken into custody, and her case is now under review by immigration authorities, who will determine if she will be deported. The verdict marks a significant development in a case that has captivated the world for nearly two decades, offering some respite to the McCann family as they continue to grapple with the unresolved mystery of their daughter's disappearance.