Woman, 60, charged with stalking Madeleine McCann's family

27 March 2025, 18:59 | Updated: 27 March 2025, 20:51

A 60-year-old woman has been charged as part of an investigation into the alleged stalking of Madeleine McCann's family.

Karen Spragg has been charged with one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress between May 3 2024 and February 21 this year, Leicestershire Police said.

The Cardiff resident is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

Polish national Julia Wandel, 23, is also due to appear at the same court tomorrow, charged with four counts of stalking against the McCann family after claiming online she was the missing girl.

Wandel is accused of stalking Kate, Gerry, Sean and Amelie McCann between January 3 2024 and February 15 2025.

She is alleged to have attended the family home on May 2 and December 7 last year.

She is also accused of sending a letter, calls, voicemails and WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry McCann, and sending Amelie and Sean McCann Instagram messages between January 3 and December 29 last year.

Wandelt, who was arrested on arrival in the UK last month, became an internet sensation in February 2023 after posting under the account name '@IAmMadeleineMcCann' claiming to be the missing daughter of Kate and Gerry McCann.

Wandelt's representative, Surjit Singh Clair, confirmed news of the arrest to LBC saying: "I'm trying to find out what's happened but it appears Julia has been arrested at Bristol Airport this evening just after she got off the plane.

"The police have reportedly arrested her on an allegation of stalking and harassing the McCanns."

Hours later, it was confirmed she was being held on suspicion of stalking and harassing Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann.