A 61-year-old care worker from Cardiff has been cleared of stalking and harassing Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of missing Madeleine McCann, following a high-profile two-week trial at Leicester Crown Court.
The Unlikely Alliance and Online Origins
Karen Spragg stood trial alongside Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old from Poland who had publicly claimed to be the missing Madeleine McCann. The court heard how their relationship began online in September 2024, when Mrs Spragg first contacted Miss Wandelt after seeing her in a YouTube broadcast.
At the time, Miss Wandelt was running the @IAmMadeleineMcCann social media account, which had gathered one million followers and led to an appearance on the Dr Phil show in the United States. Their correspondence, presented as evidence, revealed discussions about retrieving DNA from the McCanns, with Mrs Spragg suggesting they should "go through their bins".
The Confrontation in Rothley
The online contact evolved into real-world plans. Miss Wandelt travelled from her home in Lubin, Poland, to East Midlands Airport where the pair met for the first time. After checking into a hotel, they proceeded to Rothley, Leicestershire, the McCann family's home village, on December 7, 2024.
The court was played audio recordings of the subsequent confrontation. The women waited in Mrs Spragg's car with the lights off before Miss Wandelt approached Kate McCann outside her home, demanding a DNA test. Gerry McCann was heard telling them: "You are not Madeleine … I don't want this, please do not hassle us and leave the premises."
Mrs Spragg asked Mrs McCann: "Don't you want to find your daughter?" The McCanns pleaded with them to leave, stating clearly that their actions were frightening and upsetting the family.
Legal Outcome and Restraining Order
Both women were arrested at Bristol Airport on February 19, 2025. While Mrs Spragg was cleared of all charges, the presiding judge, Mrs Justice Cutts, concluded she had become "involved and enjoyed the drama" of the situation.
The judge stated: "Mrs Spragg said it herself in interview, she saw Miss Wandelt as the victim and not the McCanns. She supported her while indulging in her conspiracy theories."
Despite being found not guilty, the judge granted a five-year restraining order against Mrs Spragg, preventing her from contacting the McCanns, entering Leicestershire, or publishing any broadcast about the McCann family.
Julia Wandelt received a different outcome. She was acquitted of stalking but found guilty of harassment, receiving a six-month jail sentence which she had already served since her imprisonment in February. She was given the same restraining order as Mrs Spragg, but with indefinite duration.
