A grandmother, Karen Spragg, is on trial alongside a 24-year-old woman, Julia Wandelt, who believes she is Madeleine McCann. During the trial at Leicester Crown Court, it was revealed that Spragg and Wandelt met online, with Spragg supporting Wandelt’s claims of being the missing girl who disappeared in Portugal in 2007 at the age of three.
In police statements read in court, Spragg admitted to driving to the McCann family home, picking up Wandelt from the airport, accommodating her in Cardiff, and then staying at a hotel near the McCann residence. They later went to the McCanns’ address and waited outside.
Spragg confessed to confronting Kate and Gerry McCann, stating that Gerry was dismissive and denied any relation to Wandelt. Spragg emphasized her belief in Wandelt’s claims, mentioning the need for a DNA test to confirm her identity.
Both Spragg and Wandelt are facing charges of stalking the McCann family, with allegations of sending messages and attending their residence. The offenses are said to have occurred between June 2022 and February 2025. The trial is ongoing.