Not Guilty Verdict in High-Profile Stalking Case
A woman accused of stalking the parents of missing Madeleine McCann was seen grinning outside court after being cleared of all charges. Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, was acquitted of stalking and harassing Kate and Gerry McCann following a trial at Leicester Crown Court.
Spragg had been standing trial alongside Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old Polish woman, who was found guilty of harassment and sentenced to six months in prison. The two women held hands in the dock before the verdicts were delivered after the jury deliberated for more than seven hours.
Courtroom Drama and Restraining Orders
While Spragg was cleared of the criminal charges, Judge Mrs Justice Cutts imposed a five-year restraining order against her. The judge stated she was satisfied Spragg had "become involved and enjoyed the drama of the situation" and had supported Wandelt while "indulging in her conspiracy theories."
The restraining order prohibits Spragg from contacting the McCanns, visiting Leicestershire, or publishing any material concerning the family. Wandelt received an indefinite restraining order with the same conditions.
Prosecutors had described Spragg as a "true crime tourist of sorts" who told police she believed the McCanns had arranged their daughter's abduction in 2007. The court heard that in December 2024, Spragg accompanied Wandelt when they directly confronted the McCann parents at their Leicestershire home.
McCann Family's Response to the Verdict
In a statement issued through Leicester Police, Kate and Gerry McCann expressed that they "did not want to go through a court process and only wanted the harassment to stop."
They added: "Despite the jury's guilty verdict of harassment, we take no pleasure in the result. The decision to prosecute was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service, based on the evidence gathered by the police."
The McCanns also expressed hope that Wandelt would receive "the appropriate care & support she needs" and that her vulnerability wouldn't be exploited by others.
The case highlighted the ongoing public fascination with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007 and the impact this continues to have on her family nearly two decades later.
