When a 21-year-old Polish woman began posting on Instagram in June 2022, claiming she was Madeleine McCann, the internet took notice. What followed was more than two years of online claims, a DNA test that proved nothing, and eventually a courtroom in Leicester. This article traces how Julia Wandelt’s story turned from bizarre to criminal, ending with a harassment conviction in November 2025.
Year of first public claim: June 2022 · Claimant age at time: 21 · Country of origin: Poland · Verdict date: November 2025 · Charges brought: stalking and harassment
Quick snapshot
- Julia Wandelt claimed to be Madeleine McCann (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- DNA test did not match Madeleine McCann (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Convicted of harassment in November 2025 (The Guardian (British newspaper))
- Whether Wandelt genuinely believed her claim (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- The precise extent of her mental health at the time (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- June 2022: Wandelt first publicly claims she is Madeleine McCann (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Restraining order in place; judge noted future harassment risk (GB News (British news channel))
- Original Madeleine McCann investigation remains open and unsolved (GB News (British news channel))
The table below lays out the case details from claim to conviction.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Claimant’s name | Julia Wandelt |
| Date of first claim | June 2022 |
| Age at trial | 24 |
| Trial date | November 2025 |
| Verdict | Guilty of harassment, not guilty of stalking |
| Victims | Kate and Gerry McCann |
| Harassment period | June 2022 – February 2025 |
| Sentence | Six months in custody (already served on remand) |
| Restraining order | Imposed |
| Co-defendant Karen Spragg | Acquitted of all charges |
The pattern here: Wandelt’s online campaign escalated into real-world contact, crossing from bizarre belief into criminal conduct.
Did Julia Wandelt have a DNA test?
What did the DNA test show?
- Wandelt underwent a DNA test in 2023. Results did not match Madeleine McCann’s DNA profile (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Where did Julia Wandelt share her DNA results?
- She shared the results publicly on social media, including Instagram and Facebook (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
The implication: even incontrovertible science could not break her conviction or halt her conduct.
Why did Julia Wandelt believe she was Madeleine McCann?
What was Julia Wandelt’s explanation?
- She claimed she had memories that matched details of Madeleine’s disappearance, and cited physical similarities and family resemblance (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Did she have any evidence?
- No verifiable evidence was provided. Her claims were based solely on personal conviction (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Wandelt’s belief system, however sincere, had no external foundation — yet it drove a two‑year harassment campaign that eventually landed her in court.
What this means: the gap between internal conviction and external reality became the engine of the entire case.
When was Julia Wandelt found guilty?
What was the verdict?
- On 7 November 2025, a jury at Leicester Crown Court found Julia Wandelt guilty of harassing Kate and Gerry McCann (The Guardian (British newspaper)). The same jury found her not guilty of stalking (Sky News (UK 24-hour news channel)).
- Co‑defendant Karen Spragg was acquitted of all charges (The Independent (British newspaper)).
What sentence did Julia Wandelt receive?
- She was sentenced to six months in custody, which she had already completed on remand. A restraining order was imposed (People (US celebrity news magazine)). The judge described Wandelt as a significant risk of future harassment (GB News (British news channel)).
The split verdict — guilty of harassment but not stalking — reflects the jury’s view that while Wandelt’s conduct crossed the legal line into harassment, it did not meet the higher threshold of a stalking offence.
The catch: a six-month sentence already served means Wandelt walked free, but the restraining order binds her future conduct.
Did Julia Wandelt post on Instagram about Madeleine McCann?
How many followers did Julia Wandelt have?
- Her Instagram account @juliawandelt gained thousands of followers as her claims circulated online, though exact follower counts at peak are not publicly confirmed in official sources.
What content did she share on her account @juliawandelt?
- She posted photos, videos, and written claims asserting she was Madeleine McCann. She also shared her DNA test results publicly (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- Her social media activity formed part of the evidence in the harassment case, with prosecutors noting the online campaign as a key component.
Are Kate and Gerry McCann still together?
Are Kate and Gerry McCann still suspects?
- Kate and Gerry McCann remain married as of the latest reports. They were formally named “arguidos” (suspects) in the Portuguese investigation but were never charged. The investigation was shelved in 2008.
Why were the McCanns never prosecuted?
- Portuguese authorities closed the case against the McCanns in 2008 due to lack of evidence. The couple have consistently maintained their innocence.
The pattern: the McCanns have endured both the trauma of their daughter’s disappearance and subsequent legal scrutiny, now compounded by Wandelt’s campaign.
Timeline
- May 3, 2007 — Madeleine McCann disappears from Praia da Luz, Portugal.
- June 2022 — Julia Wandelt begins publicly claiming she is Madeleine McCann (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- 2023 — Wandelt undergoes DNA test; results do not match Madeleine McCann (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- 2025 — Wandelt arrested at Bristol Airport for stalking and harassment (LBC (UK talk radio)).
- November 2025 — Convicted of harassment, acquitted of stalking; co‑defendant Karen Spragg acquitted (The Guardian (British newspaper)).
Clarity section
Confirmed facts
- Julia Wandelt claimed to be Madeleine McCann (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- She was convicted of harassing the McCanns (The Guardian (British newspaper)).
- DNA test did not match Madeleine McCann (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- Wandelt was sentenced to six months custody (time served) (People (US celebrity news magazine)).
What remains unclear
- Whether Wandelt genuinely believed her claim (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- The full extent of her mental health at the time (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Quotes
“The jury today found Julia Wandelt guilty of harassment but not guilty of stalking. This was a campaign that caused severe distress to Kate and Gerry McCann.”
— The Guardian (British newspaper)
“Wandelt had persistently contacted the McCanns, visited their home, and sent letters claiming she was their daughter.”
“The judge concluded that Wandelt posed a significant risk of future harassment and imposed a restraining order.”
— GB News (British news channel)
The conviction closes a painful chapter for the McCann family, but the underlying question — what drives someone to adopt a missing child’s identity — remains unanswered. For the McCanns, the restraining order offers legal protection, but the emotional scars of a two‑year campaign will not be erased by a verdict.
theguardian.com, sundayreport.uk, news.sky.com, gbnews.com, itv.com, youtube.com
Frequently asked questions
Did Julia Wandelt have a DNA test?
Yes, she underwent a DNA test in 2023. The results definitively showed she was not Madeleine McCann (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
When was Julia Wandelt found guilty?
She was found guilty of harassment on 7 November 2025 at Leicester Crown Court (The Guardian (British newspaper)).
Where did Julia Wandelt claim to be Madeleine McCann?
She made the claims on social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, starting in June 2022 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Did Julia Wandelt pass a lie detector test?
There is no credible information that she ever took a lie detector test related to her claim.
Why did Julia Wandelt target the McCanns?
She reportedly believed she was Madeleine McCann and sought acknowledgment from the family (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
Did Julia Wandelt have a lawyer?
Yes, she was represented during the trial at Leicester Crown Court, though the name of her legal counsel has not been publicly disclosed.
What is Julia Wandelt doing now?
As of the verdict, she has been released from custody (time served) and is subject to a restraining order (People (US celebrity news magazine)).
Was Julia Wandelt deported?
There is no public information indicating deportation. Her current location has not been officially confirmed.
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.