A woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann has appeared in court charged with four counts of stalking the missing girl's family. Julia Wandel, also known as Julia Wandelt, was arrested at Bristol Airport on Wednesday on suspicion of stalking involving serious alarm and distress. Ms Wandel, originally from Poland, was remanded into custody after appearing at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Friday and is due to enter a plea at the city's crown court on 7 April. The case has sparked widespread media attention, with many questioning the motivations behind Wandel's actions and the potential impact on the McCann family.

Court documents state the 23-year-old is alleged to have sent messages, left voicemails, and turned up at the family home between 3 January 2024 and 15 February 2025. The documents say Ms Wandel is alleged to have gone to the McCanns' home in Leicestershire twice - on 2 May and 7 December - as well as sending WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry McCann, and Instagram messages to Madeleine's siblings. The alleged conduct "had a substantial adverse effect" on the family's day-to-day activities "when you knew or ought to have known that your course of conduct would cause alarm or distress". The investigation into Wandel's actions is ongoing, with police working to determine the extent of her involvement and potential connections to other individuals.

Madeleine McCann's disappearance at the age of three in Portugal in 2007 is one of the most widely reported missing child cases in history and remains unsolved. The case has been the subject of numerous theories and speculation over the years, with many false leads and alleged sightings. The McCann family has continued to advocate for their daughter's safe return, and the recent developments in the case have brought renewed attention to the ongoing search for Madeleine. A 60-year-old woman from Wales, who was also arrested alongside Ms Wandel on suspicion of stalking, has been released on bail, Leicestershire Police said.

The charges against Wandel carry a maximum penalty of 12 months in custody and/or an unlimited fine. At Leicester magistrates court, the defendant spoke to say her full name was Julia Wandel "according to court documents", gave her date of birth, and gave no indication as to her pleas. Wandel, who is originally from Poland, was remanded into custody to appear for a plea hearing at Leicester crown court on 7 April. The case has raised questions about the potential consequences of Wandel's actions and the impact on the McCann family, as well as the broader implications for individuals who claim to be missing persons.

Here is a timeline of events in the case: * 3 May 2007: Madeleine McCann disappears from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal * 2023: Julia Wandel claims to be Madeleine McCann and creates an Instagram account with the name @IAmMadeleineMcCann * 19 February 2025: Wandel is arrested at Bristol Airport on suspicion of stalking the McCann family * 21 February 2025: Wandel is charged with four counts of stalking and remanded into custody * 7 April 2025: Wandel is due to enter a plea at Leicester crown court. The case is ongoing, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks and months.