Alleged Harasser Inquired: 'But Imagine I Could Be Madeleine?'

A woman indicted with pursuing Kate McCann apparently recorded her a phone message which posed: "imagine I am Madeleine?"

Julia Wandelt, 24, who a jury heard has persistently declared she was the disappeared Madeleine McCann, and Karen Spragg are standing trial indicted with harassing Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February the current year.

On Monday, Leicester Crown Court was told call records and data obtained from phones logged Ms Wandelt repeatedly asking Madeleine's mother for a genetic test throughout that period.

Madeleine's case in 2007 - at the age of three during a family holiday in Portugal - is one of the most widely reported child disappearance cases and remains unsolved.

'I Do Not Need Money'

One phone message, played in court, captured Ms Wandelt declaring: "I know I'm heavy and not pretty like Madeleine used to be, but I know what I know."

While one recording of Ms Wandelt's recordings with Mrs McCann's voicemail said: "What if there is a tiny probability that I am Madeleine? What then? Is that not important for you?"

"I don't want money, I possess a living here in Poland, I just want to understand," the recording stated.

The panel was told that through electronic messages, SMS messages and communications, Ms Wandelt requested a biological test, transmitted childhood photos to her phone in a bid to display a likeness to Mrs McCann's missing daughter, and claimed to have "recollections" from a childhood with the McCanns.

Robert Jones, an investigator with law enforcement who collated the data, advised the court there "seemed to lack any replies" from Mrs McCann.

Ms Wandelt also contacted family friends of the McCanns, as per the phone records.

On that date, Gerry McCann responded to a call from Ms Wandelt to his wife's phone, declaring she had "incorrect contact information."

During that incident Ms Wandelt left a recording on Mrs McCann's voicemail declaring "I will continue and I intend to demonstrate my claim."

The court was informed the co-defendant developed a connection through digital means with Ms Wandelt prior to accompanying her on a trip to the McCanns' property in Leicestershire in last December.

Communication data demonstrated Mrs Spragg had reached out through communication app to Mrs McCann to state the news outlets had characterized Ms Wandelt as "mentally unstable" but that she deserved to be considered genuine in the months preceding the visit to Rothley, the county, in that winter.

The court was told correspondence between the two defendants, in that autumn, discussing endeavoring to get Mrs McCann's DNA samples from her garbage or from cutlery at a restaurant.

"We must assert ourselves," Mrs Spragg advised Ms Wandelt.

On the night of the appearance to their home, Mrs Spragg transmitted a message which said: "We are sat adjacent to the McCanns' house with our vehicle dark similar to investigators. I desired to achieve this with another person I didn't imagine I would be involved in this with the McCanns."

The trial ongoing.