Julia Wandelt was swooped by police at Bristol Airport and held on suspicion of stalking and harassing Madeleine McCann’s parents. Photo: Facebook

A Polish woman who falsely claimed to be Madeleine McCann is facing deportation from Britain following her conviction for harassing the missing girl’s parents.

Julia Wandelt, 24, from Lubin in south-west Poland, spent years insisting she was Madeleine, who vanished aged three in Portugal in 2007, LBC reported.

Wandelt was convicted of harassment after sending emails, leaving voicemails, and appearing uninvited at the McCanns’ home in Leicestershire.

The UK’s interior ministry, the Home Office, has confirmed that deportation proceedings have begun following Wandelt’s release from prison last week.

She had been held since February and was released due to time served on remand.

Wandelt’s co-defendant, 61-year-old Karen Spragg, was found not guilty of harassment or stalking.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gerry, left, and Kate McCann, parents of four-year old Madeleine McCann, present a picture of their daughter during a press conference in 2007. Photo: Sven Kaestner / AP

During the trial, the jury heard how Wandelt sent distressing messages to Kate McCann, calling her “mum” and claiming to have memories of Madeleine’s childhood.

The court also heard Wandelt left a letter at the family home signed, “Lots of love, Madeleine”.

Read More

politicsDo we need a lockdown to dampen diesel demand?
World NewsAmbulances set on fire outside London synagogue in anti-Semitic attack
NZ NewsMan found guilty of sexually assaulting teen at his bach over 32 years ago

“We take no pleasure in the result. Like most people, we did not want to go through a court process and only wanted the harassment to stop,” Kate and Gerry McCann said in a statement.

The couple, who have always hoped Madeleine may still be alive, spoke of the emotional impact of Wandelt’s claims.

Main suspect in Madeleine McCann disappearance case released from German jail

Madeleine’s younger sister, Amelie, now 20, also described the messages as “creepy” and upsetting for the family, highlighting the distress caused by Wandelt’s false claims.

Trial judge Mrs Justice Cutts noted that the maximum sentence for harassment was six months, adding that Wandelt had already spent longer in custody than the maximum term.

The judge thanked the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence.

Wandelt’s conviction brings legal closure for the McCann family and marks the next step in her removal from the UK.