A Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann has appeared in court over allegations she stalked the missing British girl’s parents and siblings.
Julia Wandel, 23, is accused of causing serious alarm or distress to Kate and Gerry McCann in an alleged stalking campaign between May 2 last year and February 15 this year.
Leicester magistrates court heard Wandel is accused of making unwanted contact with the McCanns, turning up at their home and sending letters, making calls and WhatsApp messages, and leaving voicemails.
She is also accused of stalking causing serious alarm or distress against Madeleine’s sister, Amelie, between January 3 and April 21 last year, and targeting Madeleine’s brother, Sean, between November 27 and December 29 last year.
Wandel - also known as Julia Wandelt - was remanded in custody on Friday after appearing in court to face the charges for the first time.
She did not enter pleas to any of the four charges.
The court heard she is accused of ”making unwanted, persistent” contact with Gerry and Kate since 2022, leading to an ”increased frequency” from the middle of last year.
”The defendant believes she is their missing daughter”, said the prosecutor, adding that Wandel is accused of having a ”fixation”.
”She asked for contact and pleaded with them for a DNA test.”
Wandel is accused of going to the McCann house after flying from Poland to the UK to attend an annual vigil for Madeleine in August last year.
She is also accused of stalking by delivering a hand-written letter to the family.
The court was told Wandel is accused of leaving ”numerous voicemails”, attempting to make contact over Instagram with Madeleine’s brother and sister, and allegedly set up a WhatsApp group to try to send messages to Kate McCann.
Wandel was arrested on Wednesday as she landed in the UK at Bristol Airport.
A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: “Two counts relate to offences between 2 May 2024 and 15 February 2025, a third count relates to offences between 3 January 2024 and 21 April 2024, and the fourth count for offences between 27 November 2024 and 29 December 2024.”
Wandel, of Lubin, Poland, flew in to the UK and had been due to meet a friend when she was surrounded by officers in front of stunned jet passengers at around 8pm.
Her friend – aged 60 and from Cardiff - was also detained on suspicion of stalking. She has been released on police bail.
Both arrests were carried out by the Avon and Somerset Police on behalf of the Leicestershire force where the McCanns live.
Madeleine, from Rothley, was three when she went missing from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia de Luz Portugal on May 3, 2007.
Magistrates agreed during the ten-minute court hearing that Wandel should be remanded in custody.
She is due to next appear in the dock at Leicester crown court on April 7.
