English Section

Polish 'Madeleine McCann' arrested in the UK on stalking charges

20.02.2025 15:20
Moments after landing at Bristol Airport, Julia Wandelt was charged with stalking and harassing Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of Madeleine McCann, who went missing in 2007.
Pictured from left: Madeleine McCann (2007) and Julia Wandelt (2025), the Polish woman claiming to be her.
Pictured from left: Madeleine McCann (2007) and Julia Wandelt (2025), the Polish woman claiming to be her.Photo: HANDOUT/AFP/East News, Facebook

Julia Wandelt, a 23-year-old Polish woman who previously claimed to be missing British girl Madeleine McCann, was taken into custody on stalking charges.

The arrest, first reported by Daily Mail, took place Wednesday night when she arrived from Wrocław, Poland, and was intercepted by officers. A 60-year-old woman from Cardiff, accused of assisting her, was also detained.

Leicestershire Police, overseeing the McCanns’ home region, confirmed both suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.

Wandelt first gained online attention in early 2023 after asserting on Instagram that she was Madeleine, despite DNA tests proving otherwise.

This week, she re-emerged with new claims suggesting a genetic link to Gerry McCann, drawing significant interest from both Polish and British media.

Source: X/@MailOnline/@Independent

(m p)