Alleged McCann stalker 'sent creepy messages'

Amelie McCann gave evidence to the trial at Leicester Crown Court via video-link on Thursday

Madeleine McCann's sister has told a court that a woman claiming to be her missing sibling "played with my emotions" and sent "creepy" messages.

Amelie McCann said Julia Wandelt had told her she had memories of playing Ring a Ring o' Roses with her and feeding her brother Sean.

The 24-year-old wanted to prove she was the missing youngster with a DNA test, but Ms McCann told Leicester Crown Court: "I always knew that she wasn't Madeleine, so I didn't need to do one."

Ms Wandelt and Karen Spragg, who the court heard met Ms Wandelt online before helping to orchestrate her approaches, deny stalking Kate and Gerry McCann - the parents of missing Madeleine, who disappeared on 3 May 2007 in Portugal.

Ms McCann said Ms Wandelt first tried to contact her in January 2024 over Facebook.

She told the court she was aware of Ms Wandelt as "she had been in the media", but as she used the name Julia Julia, Ms McCann "hadn't clocked" it was the same person.

She said: "I was used to getting messages from people about the case and was used to ignoring messages."

At first, she said she "didn't really tell anyone about it".

"I just thought I could deal with it myself and ignore it," she added.

Karen Spragg (left) and Julia Wandelt deny the charges

Over the course of the first day of messages, Ms McCann said Ms Wandelt told her she had used "hypnosis sessions", and had "flashbacks" of childhood memories of being Madeleine, feeding Sean and playing with Amelie.

The defendant also talked about the night of Madeleine's disappearance, police corruption and DNA in a series of messages, prosecuting lawyer Nadia Silver said.

The witness was then asked about a line in another message, which the court heard said that Ms Wandelt recalled playing the playground game Ring a Ring o' Roses.

"Again, it makes me feel quite uncomfortable because it is quite creepy and playing with my emotions and my memories that she claims that happened," she said.

"It put a lot of stress on me."

Ms Wandelt, Ms McCann said, continued to message over Instagram and Facebook.

Madeleine McCann's disappearance has never been solved

The court was told Ms Wandelt had asked Ms McCann to do a DNA test with her, but the witness said: "I always knew she wasn't Madeleine, so I didn't need to do one."

Ms Wandelt, the jury heard, urged Ms McCann to get her parents to respond to her messages about a DNA test, and said: "Make them believe there is still a hope. I will do whatever it takes."

Another message, sent on 29 April 2024, contained images of the pair and said: "Give me a chance to prove it."

Ms McCann said: "She'd clearly altered pictures to make me more like her, which was quite disturbing."

She said she never responded to any of Ms Wandelt's messages.

Kate and Gerry McCann gave evidence to the court from behind a privacy screen on Wednesday

Ms Wandelt, the court heard, also sent a letter to the McCanns' family home, in Rothley, Leicestershire, addressed to Amelie McCann, which contained photos of both her and Ms Wandelt.

It said Ms McCann was "her last hope" and that she "really needed" her.

Describing the toll the alleged stalking had on the family, Ms McCann added: "My mum found it the hardest and was harassed by Julia more than the rest of us."

She also spoke of her mother being "stressed and on edge" after the defendants turned up at the family home on 7 December 2024, demanding a DNA test.

Ms McCann concluded her evidence by saying that increased security measures at the home - such as a panic alarm to alert Leicestershire Police, new CCTV and a Ring doorbell camera - were "not normal".

Meanwhile, Amelie's twin brother Sean had a statement read out in court.

He said he had been contacted over Instagram in November 2024 by two of Ms Wandelt's accounts.

He said he did not respond and blocked the accounts, but said he found it "strange and upsetting".

He changed his social media profiles following the contact to remove his surname to make him harder to find, the court heard.

The statement added: "I'm aware Julia may be suffering from some sort of mental health.

"If, however, she's fully aware she is not Madeleine, yet makes these claims she is, that will be very upsetting for me.

"I do not believe she is my sister. The fact Julia is doing this has caused me a great deal of stress and I find it deeply disturbing."

Neighbour's statement

The court also heard evidence from family friends Linda McQueen and her daughter Ellie, who both said they received messages from Ms Wandelt.

Linda said: "It's really upsetting, we've all got memories of Madeleine. It's appalling."

Ring doorbell footage from a neighbour was also played to the jury showing two women approaching and leaving the McCanns' home on 7 December 2024, the same night Mr and Mrs McCann were "accosted".

Neighbour Dr Alex Milton added, via a statement, he saw a blonde woman sitting in a car with the internal light on when he went to walk his dog, and later when he went to pick up a curry.

When he returned with his takeaway, the car was there but the woman was not.

The trial of Ms Wandelt, of Jana Kochanowskiego in Lubin, Poland, and Mrs Spragg, 61, of Caerau Court Road, Cardiff, continues.