A sick Polish girl was convicted Friday for cruelly pretending to be lacking Madeleine McCann — however cleared of the extra severe cost of stalking the UK woman’s long-tormented mother and father.
Julia Wandelt, 24, was discovered responsible of harassing Kate and Gerry McCann for over two years whereas claiming to be their lacking daughter, who was simply 3 when she vanished in 2007 whereas on trip in Portugal.
She had even approached Kate McCann exterior her dwelling final December — then despatched her a letter addressed to “mum,” the UK spelling of mother, which was “actually distressing,” McCann testified.
Wandelt was sentenced to 6 months in jail, the utmost allowed sentence for harassment — which she has already served since her arrest earlier this yr.
Nonetheless, she was cleared of stalking the McCanns with the sick lies, regardless of the decide noting her “fixed pestering” and “badgering,” regardless that there was “unequivocal scientific proof” she couldn’t be their daughter, who would now be 22.
Karen Spragg, a 61-year-old UK girl who supported her vile claims, was additionally cleared of stalking.
“Regardless of the jury’s responsible verdict of harassment, we take no pleasure within the outcome,” the McCanns mentioned after the sentencing at Leicester Crown Court docket.
“We hope Ms Wandelt will obtain the suitable care and assist she wants and any vulnerability is not going to be exploited by others,” they mentioned, saying they “solely needed the harassment to cease.”
“If anybody has new proof regarding Madeleine’s disappearance, please go this on to the police.”
Wandelt was banned indefinitely from contacting the McCanns, and served a deportation discover.
Throughout the sentencing listening to, the decide mentioned she understood Wandelt had a tough upbringing, however famous her household historical past did “not justify the way in which you behaved.”
Wandelt testified that she by no means meant to trigger any hurt to the McCanns and and felt “sympathy for them.” She insisted she felt she might be the lacking woman “as a result of they search for their youngster and I search for my mother and father.”
Prosecutors mentioned Wandelt beforehand claimed to be two different lacking youngsters.
Madeleine’s mother and father proceed to marketing campaign to search out their daughter, who would now be 22, and situation an announcement every year on the anniversary of the day she went lacking.
The primary suspect in her disappearance was launched from a German jail in September after serving a seven-year sentence for an unrelated intercourse crime.
With Publish Wires
