McCanns Testify as Stalking Trial of Julia Wandelt & Karen Spragg Opens in London

Xander MacIntyre

When Gerry McCann and his wife Kate McCann took the stand at the stalking trial of Julia Wandelt and Karen SpraggSouthwark Crown Court, London on October 8, 2025, the courtroom filled with a mix of hushed anticipation and palpable tension. The parents of the missing toddler, whose disappearance in 2007 still haunts headlines, faced two women accused of turning their tragedy into a personal campaign of harassment. The trial matters because it pits "unequivocal scientific evidence" against a delusional claim that a stranger is the long‑lost Madeleine, highlighting the legal system’s role in shielding victims from obsessive imitators.

How the Stalking Campaign Unfolded

According to prosecutors from the Crown Prosecution Service, the alleged harassment began in January 2022 and persisted until September 2025. Over that three‑year stretch, Julia Wandelt, 42, allegedly sent 172 harassing messages, made 43 physical approaches to the McCanns’ residence in Rothley, Leicestershire, and created 29 fake social‑media accounts posing as Madeleine. Her accomplice, Karen Spragg, 55, a former primary‑school teacher from Peterborough, is accused of handling logistics, forging documents, and helping Wandelt stay one step ahead of the police.

Digital forensics painted a damning picture: 877 searches for "Madeleine McCann" on Wandelt’s devices, 142 recorded attempts to contact the family, and video of her loitering outside the McCanns’ home on 19 separate occasions. The prosecution also introduced DNA and biometric data that conclusively proved Wandelt is not the missing child, a point reiterated by an expert witness from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Protection Command.

Inside the Courtroom: Voices and Reactions

During a dramatically emotional moment, the court played an audio clip of Gerry McCann confronting Wandelt. "You're not Madeleine," he said, a line that drew gasps from the gallery. Wandelt erupted, sobbing and shouting, "I am her!" The raw scene underscored the depth of the McCanns’ distress. Later, Kate McCann testified at 2:15 PM GMT, describing the campaign as a "re‑traumatizing" intrusion that compounded the grief of still searching for their real daughter.

The presiding judge, Amanda Tipples, noted the case’s “extraordinary impact on the family’s mental health” and set the timeline for closing arguments on October 10, with jury deliberations slated to begin October 11.

Legal Angles: Defence Strategies and Potential Penalties

Wandelt’s counsel, James Lewis KC of 2 Hare Court Chambers, acknowledged the false‑identity claim but argued that Wandelt suffers from a delusional disorder and posed no physical threat. Spragg’s defence, represented by lawyers from Kings Chambers in Manchester, painted her as a pawn manipulated by Wandelt, insisting she was unaware of the full scope of the harassment.

Both defendants face up to 10 years behind bars under Section 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, a maximum sentence cited by the Crown Prosecution Service. The jury will weigh the intensity of the stalking, the psychological harm inflicted, and the defendants’ mental‑health arguments before reaching a verdict, expected by October 15.

Why This Trial Resonates Beyond the McCanns

The case sits at the intersection of high‑profile missing‑person media coverage and the UK’s evolving stalking legislation. It demonstrates how the justice system can intervene when an individual attempts to appropriate another’s tragedy for personal notoriety. Legal scholars point out that, while stalking statutes have existed for decades, convictions involving identity fraud tied to a famous disappearance are rare, making this trial a potential precedent.

Furthermore, the trial has sparked a broader conversation about online impersonation. With 29 fabricated social‑media profiles linked to Wandelt, the prosecution’s digital‑forensics team highlighted how easily modern platforms can be weaponised against vulnerable families. The Metropolitan Police’s Protection Command has already pledged to review its monitoring protocols for similar cases.

What Happens Next?

After the jury begins deliberations on October 11, the McCanns’ legal representative, David Sandiford of Enable Law, said the family will seek restraining orders regardless of the criminal outcome. The court’s next public step will be the announced verdict, after which any sentencing will be scheduled.

Meanwhile, the McCanns continue their search for Madeleine, a quest that remains separate from the stalking case but is inevitably reminded of by every media flash about the family.

• Trial opened: October 6, 2025
• Defendants: Julia Wandelt (42) & Karen Spragg (55)
• Charges: Stalking under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
• Evidence: DNA, biometric data, 172 messages, 43 approaches
• Potential sentence: Up to 10 years imprisonment