Julia Wandel, 23, faces allegations of stalking the McCann family, including sending multiple communications. She was denied bail at Leicester Crown Court.
A 23-year-old Polish woman, Julia Wandel, also known as Julia Wandelt, has been denied bail by a judge at Leicester Crown Court following allegations of stalking the family of missing girl Madeleine McCann. Wandel made a brief bail application that was unsuccessful during a court session on Friday. Judge Timothy Spencer KC declared that specifics of the bail application cannot be disclosed, with a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled for April 22 at the same court.
Wandel, who hails from Lubin in south-west Poland, did not appear in person at the hearing but participated via video link from prison. She faces multiple allegations of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, alongside their children, Sean and Amelie, between January 3 and February 15. The allegations specify her attendance at the McCann family home in Leicestershire on two occasions: May 2 and December 7 of the previous year.
Additionally, Wandel is accused of sending a series of communications to the family, which reportedly include letters, phone calls, voicemails, and WhatsApp messages directed towards Kate and Gerry McCann. Furthermore, she is alleged to have sent Instagram messages to Sean and Amelie McCann during the year leading up to the court date, with these actions constituting the four alleged stalking offences. Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to 12 months in custody or an unlimited fine.
In a related development, on the same day, another woman, 60-year-old Karen Spragg from Caerau, Cardiff, is also set to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on charges pertaining to the stalking of the McCann family. Spragg faces one count of stalking that allegedly caused serious alarm or distress between May 3, 2024, and February 21, 2025. Both women were arrested at Bristol Airport, connecting their cases through this ongoing investigation.
The disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who was just three years old when she vanished from Praia da Luz in Portugal during a family holiday in May 2007, remains a high-profile case that has puzzled investigators for over 16 years. The ongoing coverage and investigation into her case have drawn significant attention both in the UK and internationally.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-64545640 – This URL may provide additional context or updates on the case involving Julia Wandel and the McCann family at Leicester Crown Court. It discusses ongoing legal developments related to the stalking allegations against the McCann family.
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11925619/Madeleine-McCann-stalking-case-Julia-Wandel-denied-bail.html – This URL likely offers detailed coverage of Julia Wandel’s bail denial and stalking allegations against the McCann family, providing insight into the legal proceedings and background of the case.
- https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/madeleine-mccann-stalker-julia-wandel-denied-bail-zj0rj9m6j – This URL may provide further information on Julia Wandel’s court appearance and the ongoing investigation into stalking allegations against the McCann family, detailing legal developments and public interest.
- https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/25845327/madeleine-mccann-stalking-case-julia-wandel-bail-denied/ – This URL could offer more details on the charges faced by Julia Wandel and the circumstances surrounding her bail application, highlighting the severity of stalking allegations.
- https://www.itv.com/news/central/2024-03-21/stalking-case-against-mccann-family-includes-accusations-against-two-women/ – This URL may discuss the connection between the two women involved in stalking allegations, Julia Wandel and Karen Spragg, and their upcoming court appearances related to the McCann family.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/madeleine-mccann-stalker-julia-wandel-bail-denied-b2310082.html – This URL likely contains an overview of Julia Wandel’s case, including her background and the reasons behind the bail denial, as well as broader context on the McCann family stalking allegations.
- https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/mccann-family-stalking-suspect-denied-bail-by-crown-court-judge-A7LCO47BDRML3LJ5MUOMCGCDE4/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/fake-madeleine-mccann-appears-court-34949291 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is highly relevant and recent, mentioning incidents occurring between January 3, 2024, and February 15, 2025, and ongoing court proceedings.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the provided text.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Irish News, a reputable news source in Northern Ireland. However, it does not specify if it’s a press release or direct reporting from the source, which could have slightly enhanced its reliability further.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The allegations and court proceedings are plausible due to the ongoing high-profile nature of the Madeleine McCann case. Lack of specific details might make some aspects harder to verify but generally align with expected legal proceedings.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent and well-supported by ongoing events in the Madeleine McCann case, lacks direct quotes, and comes from a generally reliable source. The absence of specific details in some areas does not detract from the overall credibility.
