The Verdict and its Impact on the McCann Family
A Polish woman who persistently claimed to be Madeleine McCann has been found guilty of harassing the missing girl's family. Julia Wandelt, 24, was convicted at Leicester Magistrates' Court, bringing a measure of closure to a case that has caused Kate and Gerry McCann profound distress. The court heard how Wandelt loitered outside the McCanns' Leicestershire home, confronting Kate McCann as she returned, and made dozens of calls and sent letters to the grieving parents.
Kate McCann, 57, described the immense toll this behaviour took, telling the jury, "It was like it escalated. The level of stress and anxiety it caused." She spoke of the constant dread, from the phone ringing to checking who was outside her home. After giving evidence, Wandelt was seen sobbing uncontrollably as she was led from the dock.
Unravelling the Identity of Julia Wandelt
Despite Wandelt's fervent claims, evidence has repeatedly proven she is not Madeleine McCann. Madeleine vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007 and would now be 22. Wandelt is two years her senior. Crucially, DNA tests have conclusively shown that Wandelt is not related to the McCanns.
Her true origins lie in Poland. An official birth certificate for Julia Wandelt was confirmed in Wroclaw, Poland, matching the date of birth she gave in court. Further DNA analysis revealed Polish heritage, with some Lithuanian and Romanian roots. Private investigator Dr Fia Johansson stated, "She is absolutely 100 percent from Poland."
In interviews, Wandelt has spoken of a difficult childhood, including isolation and sexual abuse, which led her to question her memories. She claimed to have significant gaps in her childhood recollections and insisted that a memory of a beach holiday with light-coloured buildings fuelled her belief that she was Madeleine.
A Family's Mortification and a Strained Relationship
The global attention from Wandelt's claims has reportedly left her own family devastated. Her mother, Dorota Wandelt-Cholewinski, a successful boutique owner, and stepfather, Piotr Cholewinski, were said to be "mortified" and even fled their home temporarily following her arrest in England.
A source close to the family revealed they have endured years of distress, receiving death threats and strange messages. The family issued a statement saying, "We have memories, we have pictures. Julia also has these photos because she took them from the family home." They expressed fear for her future, noting, "The internet won't forget."
Wandelt's personal life has also been affected. She lived in Lubin, Poland, with her boyfriend and several pets, but her obsession with the McCann case reportedly strained their relationship. On Instagram, she once lamented that her boyfriend "wants to leave me – because of this case."
Public records in Poland list Wandelt as the director of an animal breeding firm. She also pursued musical interests, describing herself on a Facebook page as a singer-songwriter and pianist, managed by a Swedish company. She told the BBC that music was her way of dealing with life's difficulties.
Following more than seven hours of deliberation, the jury found Wandelt guilty of harassment but not guilty of stalking. Noting she had been in custody since her arrest in February, the judge remarked that she had already served longer than the maximum six-month sentence for the harassment conviction.
