Julia Wandelt has finished giving evidence at Leicester Crown Court, where she is on trial accused of stalking the family of Madeleine McCann
The 24-year-old, from Lubin in south-west Poland, has repeatedly claimed she is missing Madeleine, who disappeared in 2007
The defendant burst into tears when told there is "no scientific evidence" linking her to the McCanns at all, saying she is "exhausted" and adding "I don't care any more"
Co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, from 61, of Caerau, Cardiff, will not give evidence
Miss Wandelt denies altering images sent to Madeleine's sister, Amelie, to try to make her look more like the missing child
Earlier, the Polish national became upset and asked why she is standing in court. She said she "did not do anything wrong"
The pair deny stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, causing serious alarm and distress between June 2022 and February 2025
The jury is now hearing that Miss Wandelt sent messages on 13 April 2024, asking Kate McCann to not block her.
She told the court she suspected she was blocked as she could not see that the messages were delivered.
Another message said: "I know what happened. I cry when I hear your voice. I don't understand why you don't want to speak to me."
Julia Wandelt is now back on the stand, following the return of the judge and jury.
Julia Wandelt was also asked about her friendship with co-defendant Karen Spragg (below), 61, from Cardiff.
Asked by Tom Price KC how they first got in touch, Miss Wandelt said she thought it was in 2024, and that it started on either Facebook or Instagram.
Mr Price KC asked her what the nature of the contact was at first, to which Miss Wandelt said: "She was a supporter of mine and I always engaged with supporters."
Miss Wandelt said their contact became more frequent, and that they ended up speaking every day.
She said: "We were discussing everything, even some daily things like my cats."
Mr Price KC asked: "It was normal friendly discussion?"
"Yes, it wasn't only the case, we spoke about a lot of other things," Miss Wandelt said.
She said she then decided to come to the UK to meet Mrs Spragg.
Image source, PA MediaThe court is taking a break. Proceedings are set to resume shortly.
The court heard Julia Wandelt, in a voicemail to Kate McCann, said: "I just want to tell you what I remember, you can decide if you want to do a DNA test."
In the absence of a DNA test, Miss Wandelt said she thought she was Madeleine.
In another voicemail she said: "If I am her, then everything should be OK."
The court heard Miss Wandelt sent several messages and had no response from Mrs McCann.
When asked why she persisted, Miss Wandelt said: "The way I was treated, the evidence I'd gathered, it all went to one result.
"I thought a DNA test should've been done at the beginning and couldn't understand why it wasn't.
"I thought it was because of the media, what they had said about me."
Miss Wandelt continues, saying she did not intend to cause any upset to Kate McCann, and thought she could provide assistance to her.
She told the court about weighing up false hope and finding the truth.
Miss Wandelt said "me possibly being Madeleine was bigger" than the potential upset that could be caused to the family.
The court is now hearing evidence from the defence counsel of "numerous contacts" between Julia Wandelt and Kate McCann on 13 April 2024.
Jurors were told voice calls and texts were "happening in a very close time to each other".
Miss Wandelt said: "The 13th was not the first time, I did not know what was so special about that day."
One correspondence during that time period heard Miss Wandelt say: "I just need one call and that is all."
Julia Wandelt was asked about journalist Surjit Singh, who she was put in touch with by someone who said he could help her.
She told the court that he said he could get Gerry McCann to do a DNA test, but after "some time" he told her it would be impossible.
She said: "I don't know actually if everything he said was true but he told me we would have to make this story big."
Miss Wandelt denied that Mr Singh was paying her, and said her hope was that a DNA test with the McCanns would be carried out.
Asked by barrister Tom Price KC if Mr Singh would "tell you what to do, direct you as to what you should be doing", Miss Wandelt replied: "Yes."
Mr Price asked if she trusted Mr Singh, to which Miss Wandelt said: "I had my doubts. I thought, I just don't know how people can lie so much. I just thought someone would help me."
The court heard that Julia Wandelt contacted Kate McCann - mother of missing Madeleine McCann - for a "couple of reasons".
"First is I really wanted this DNA test. I did not know why she did not want this," Miss Wandelt said.
She added: "I got the impression that police did not pass any information to Kate and Gerry and did not pass any of the circumstantial evidence I had gathered."
Miss Wandelt said she believed the McCanns had been "misled".
Image source, Joe Giddens - WPA Pool/Getty ImagesJulia Wandelt added Fia Johansson said "she would be able to help me".
"I was desperate. She said she is in touch with Kate and Gerry McCann and they agreed for a DNA test with me," Miss Wandelt said.
Tom Price KC asked: "Did you believe her?"
Miss Wandelt replied: "Yes."
The defendant added: "She took over my Instagram account even before she came to Poland.
"I started asking when we will go to the UK - that was the plan.
"She organised interviews, not sure actually how or why. I did not see the point, for example, going on Dr Phil. It was all her idea."
Miss Wandelt told the jury she did not get paid to appear on the Dr Phil show, hosted by Phil McGraw - one of the top chat show hosts in the US - in March 2023.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe court heard Fia Johansson, an American woman, contacted Julia Wandelt in February 2023 after Miss Wandelt went public with her story that she is believed she was missing Madeleine.
Jurors heard the pair had a WhatsApp phone call and Fia Johansson visited Miss Wandelt in Poland.
The pair, jurors heard, then went to Los Angeles together as Miss Johansson said Miss Wandelt was "in danger" in Poland.
Miss Wandelt added Miss Johansson's attitude changed after they arrived in Los Angeles.
Miss Wandelt, the court heard, sent an email to Mr Payne with questions about a toy Madeleine had - a pink Cuddle Cat.
This was in relation to a similar teddy bear that Miss Wandelt had as a child that was made by Mothercare, an English company.
She said there were inaccuracies in the story her mother gave her about where she got it, and that she was holding on to any "circumstantial evidence" she could to find out who she was.
Miss Wandelt has told the court she received personal photographs of the McCanns on holiday from a woman whom she saw is friends on Facebook with Russell O'Brien, who was with the McCanns in Portugal when Madeleine disappeared in 2007.
Miss Wandelt told the jury: "I never published them and I never will publish them."
She continues to be asked about contact she made with David Payne.
She said she sent messages to Mr Payne and wife Fiona, but did not know if they were actually getting through.
In one message, Miss Wandelt asked Mr Payne to help her get in touch with Kate and Gerry McCann because she did not know how to reach them.
Mr Payne responded that he was not in a position to help her, adding: "I'm sorry, we have had enough over the years."
Asked by Tom Price KC what she thought Mr Payne meant by that, Miss Wandelt said: "I think Kate and Gerry and all the friends, all of them were affected by this, mostly by all these accusations and possibly that is what he meant."
Miss Wandelt added Mr Payne was the only person who actually engaged with her messages.
The court is now hearing of calls between Miss Wandelt and David Payne, who the court heard alongside his wife Fiona had been "very close friends" with the McCanns for about 25 years.
The calls, the jury heard, took place in October last year.
"I had this hope somewhere in my heart that maybe he would help me," Miss Wandelt said.
Image source, Julia WandeltMiss Wandelt continues, saying she was contacted by a woman on Instagram who sent her photos of the McCanns, including ones of Amelie McCann not seen in the press.
She said: "I had never seen these photos, so they had to be unpublished. It had to be someone who knew Kate and Gerry."
The defendant added the messages came "out of the blue" and that anyone had the ability to message her Instagram page.
Miss Wandelt is then asked if she had ever received money.
She said she was given about £400 from a fundraiser, which she says she used for a lawyer in Poland.
She said she did get money for a polygraph test "from people who wanted to help me", adding that her boyfriend told her to move out without any savings.
Miss Wandelt said: "My friends advised me to ask people for help. "I felt bad about this... I should be able to take care of myself.
"I'm ashamed of this because I know what it looks like. I did not want to end up homeless on the street with my boyfriend telling me I have to move out straight away."
Miss Wandelt has told jurors she is not a "liar or attention seeker".
When asked by her barrister about messages she sent to Amelie McCann, Miss Wandelt said: "I tried everything to get help to find out who I am, get a DNA test with Kate and Gerry McCann."
Questioned about a message she sent to Ms McCann, which said "I don't want to give up", Miss Wandelt added: "I wanted to be able to heal from my trauma. I knew this was the only way to find out who I am and what exactly happened to me - just where I came from."
Miss Wandelt is being asked why she contacted Madeleine McCann's sister Amelie.
Ms McCann has given evidence to the trial - saying that Miss Wandelt had told her she had memories of playing Ring a Ring o' Roses with her and feeding her brother Sean.
She added, via video-link, that the defendant "played with my emotions".
When asked by her barrister Tom Price KC why she contacted Ms McCann at this point, Miss Wandelt said: "I think I just tried everything I could after being pushed away by charities and institutions. I think I was desperate. No-one wanted to help me."
She added she "never wanted to upset" Ms McCann.
"I was being honest, trying to get the truth on who I am," Miss Wandelt added.
Image source, Elizabeth Cook/PA WireMatt Taylor
BBC News
Julia Wandelt is back on the stand and resuming her evidence.
Here is what we heard in court yesterday:
Image source, PA Media/ BBC
Alex Smith
BBC News Online
Image source, PA Media/SuppliedMiss Wandelt (right), of Jana Kochanowskiego in Lubin, Poland, and Mrs Spragg, of Caerau Court Road, Cardiff, are accused of stalking Mr and Mrs McCann by sending emails, making phone calls and turning up at their address in Rothley, Leicestershire.
The pair carried out a "campaign of harassment", Leicester Crown Court heard, and in Miss Wandelt's case, that occurred over two and a half years.
The court heard from June 2022, Miss Wandelt had begun to speak to "anyone who would care to listen" that she was Madeleine.
Co-defendant Mrs Spragg became a "forthright" supporter of Miss Wandelt's and the "conspiracy theory" that Madeleine's parents were involved in her disappearance, the prosecution said.
Mrs Spragg became "a confidante" and later took "an active role" in assisting Miss Wandelt in her attempts to contact the McCanns, the court heard.
Good morning from Leicester Crown Court.
We are back at the trial of Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg, who are both accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of missing Madeleine McCann.
Miss Wandelt, 24, is expected to continue giving evidence today.