Women in court accused of stalking McCann family
Madeleine McCann went missing during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007
- Published
Two women have appeared in court after being charged as part of an investigation into the alleged stalking of Madeleine McCann's family.
A lawyer acting for Julia Wandel, 23, from Lubin in south-west Poland, made an unsuccessful 15-minute bail application at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.
Meanwhile, Karen Spragg, 60, of Caerau, Cardiff, appeared before Leicester Magistrates' Court facing one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.
Mrs Spragg was released on conditional bail, with both women set to appear at the city's crown court on 22 April.
Julia Wandel was denied bail following a hearing at Leicester Crown Court
Judge Timothy Spencer KC ruled no details from Ms Wandel's bail application can be reported, ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing in April.
Ms Wandel did not attend the hearing in person but is understood to have followed the proceedings via a prison video-link.
She is accused of stalking Kate, Gerry, Sean and Amelie McCann between 3 January 2024 and 15 February this year.
Ms Wandel is alleged to have attended the family home in Leicestershire on 2 May and 7 December 2024.
She is also accused of sending a letter, calls, voicemails and WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry McCann, and sending Amelie and Sean McCann Instagram messages between 3 January and 29 December last year.
Karen Spragg appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Friday
Meanwhile, Mrs Spragg faces one charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress between 3 May 2024 and 21 February this year.
Mrs Spragg gave no indication of plea when she appeared before magistrates.
She was bailed with conditions to appear at the city's crown court next month.
Mrs Spragg was ordered not to contact Kate or Gerry McCann or family friends, not to come to Leicester except on legal matters and to reside at her home address.
Madeleine's disappearance at the age of three, during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007, is one of the most widely reported missing child cases and remains unsolved.
Additional reporting by PA Media.
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