😱💔 STALKER TRIAL HORROR UNFOLDS! Julia Wandelt breaks down in tears as prosecutors declare she’s NOT Madeleine McCann—after a 3-year campaign of emails, calls, and home invasions that terrorized Kate & Gerry! 😢🚨 Will justice prevail for the grieving parents, or more twisted claims emerge? First day bombshells have the world watching—dive into the chilling details and share your verdict! 🗣️👀👉

The highly anticipated trial of Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg, accused of stalking the family of missing child Madeleine McCann, commenced on October 6, 2025, at Leicester Crown Court, with dramatic scenes unfolding as Wandelt broke down in tears during opening statements. The 24-year-old Polish national from Lubin and 61-year-old Karen Spragg from Caerau, Cardiff, each face one count of stalking causing serious alarm or distress to Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February 2025, charges both deny. Prosecutor Michael Duck KC wasted no time clarifying to the jury: “Can we, at this very early stage in the trial, make this position clear – that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann,” prompting Wandelt to audibly cry and retreat to the back of the dock before returning after a brief break.

Madeleine McCann, who vanished at age three from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007, remains one of the most enduring missing child cases globally, with her parents enduring relentless media scrutiny and conspiracy theories. Duck described the defendants’ actions as a “well-planned campaign of harassment,” not mere social media comments, but persistent electronic communications, phone calls, and physical visits to the McCanns’ Rothley, Leicestershire home. Wandelt, who appeared in black leggings and a white jumper, allegedly began claiming in June 2022 to be Madeleine, asserting false memories of growing up in the McCann household and interacting with the twins, Sean and Amelie. She reportedly sent 60 messages to Kate McCann in a single day, left voicemails insisting she was not a “liar or crazy,” and even claimed recollections of Kate rubbing her head on the night of the abduction, saying “I love you and you would find me.”

Scientific evidence unequivocally disproves any familial link, as Wandelt was not the same age as Madeleine at the time of her disappearance—Wandelt was born in Poland and has no connection to the McCanns. Prosecutors revealed Wandelt’s pattern extended beyond Madeleine; she previously impersonated two other missing girls—German child Inga Gehricke and Utah baby Acacia Bishop—contacting charities with fabricated claims before fixating on the McCanns. Duck noted she obtained family photos to compare with her own images and forwarded them to Madeleine’s sibling in a bid to “persuade” a relation, escalating to visits where she begged the family not to “give up on your daughter.”

Spragg, on conditional bail and appearing alongside Wandelt, is accused of aiding the harassment through calls, letters, and accompanying Wandelt to the McCann home. The court heard Spragg comforted Wandelt during her emotional outburst, as the pair allegedly perpetuated conspiracy theories that have haunted the McCanns since 2007. Duck emphasized the McCanns’ ongoing trauma: “One of many tragic consequences… has been their constant inability to escape the glare of publicity,” with defendants belonging to a group “fail[ing] to acknowledge their plight.”

The trial, expected to last several days, will feature testimony from the McCann twins and evidence of the “campaign’s” impact, including visits to the family’s village and home. Wandelt remains in custody, while Spragg is under bail conditions prohibiting contact with the McCanns. Legal experts note the case highlights the perils of online conspiracy proliferation, with platforms enabling false claims that escalate to real-world harassment.

Social media reactions have been intense, with posts from BBC and Mirror coverage drawing thousands of views, users expressing sympathy for the McCanns and outrage at the defendants’ persistence. One X user shared BBC links, amplifying the story’s reach. The case revives pain for the McCanns, who have campaigned tirelessly, with Gerry and Kate maintaining hope amid setbacks like the ongoing Portuguese investigation into suspect Christian Brueckner.

Broader implications touch on mental health and conspiracy culture. Wandelt’s history of multiple false identities suggests possible delusions, though prosecutors frame it as deliberate harassment. Advocacy groups call for stricter online regulations to curb harmful myths exploiting tragedies like Madeleine’s unsolved disappearance.

As the trial progresses, the focus remains on delivering justice for the McCanns, whose resilience amid public torment continues to inspire. The jury of five men and seven women will weigh evidence of intent and distress, potentially setting precedents for stalking via digital and physical means in high-profile cases.

The emotional first day underscores the human cost of obsession, with Wandelt’s breakdown a stark reminder of the blurred lines between belief and crime in the shadow of enduring grief.