Accused Harasser Inquired: 'But What If I Could Be Madeleine?'
A woman indicted with pursuing Kate McCann reportedly recorded her a phone message which asked: "suppose I am Madeleine?"
The defendant, twenty-four, who witnesses stated has consistently claimed she was the vanished Madeleine McCann, and Karen Spragg are standing trial indicted with harassing Kate and Gerry McCann from June 2022 and February 2025.
On Monday, Leicester Crown Court heard phone records and information recovered from phones logged Ms Wandelt repeatedly asking Madeleine's mother for a biological test over that period.
Madeleine's vanishing in 2007 - at the age of three during a trip in Portugal - is among the most publicized investigations and remains unresolved.
'I Don't Want Money'
A separate phone message, played in court, documented Ms Wandelt declaring: "I realize I'm overweight and unattractive like Madeleine was, but I feel what I feel."
While one recording of Ms Wandelt's recordings with Mrs McCann's answerphone said: "Suppose there is a small chance that I am she? What then? Isn't that important for you?"
"I do not need money, I have a life here in Poland, I just want to discover," the message continued.
The tribunal was told that via electronic messages, SMS messages and phone calls, Ms Wandelt requested a DNA test, sent youth pictures to her phone in a bid to display a resemblance to Mrs McCann's missing daughter, and claimed to have "memories" from a youth with the McCanns.
Robert Jones, an intelligence analyst with the police force who compiled the information, told the court there "didn't appear to be any answers" from Mrs McCann.
Ms Wandelt additionally communicated with acquaintances of the McCanns, based on the call data.
On that date, the father responded to a call from Ms Wandelt to his wife's phone, saying she had "the wrong phone."
On that occasion Ms Wandelt deposited a recording on Mrs McCann's voicemail stating "I won't give up and I intend to demonstrate my claim."
The court was informed Mrs Spragg developed a association through digital means with Ms Wandelt prior to accompanying her on a trip to the McCanns' home in that area in December 2024.
Communication data demonstrated Mrs Spragg had contacted through communication app to Mrs McCann to express the news outlets had portrayed Ms Wandelt as "emotionally disturbed" but that she deserved to be taken seriously in the months leading up to the trip to Rothley, that area, in that winter.
The court learned communications between the two accused, in November 2024, planning attempting to acquire Mrs McCann's biological evidence from her trash or from silverware at a restaurant.
"We must assert ourselves," the co-defendant told Ms Wandelt.
On the night of the visit to their residence, Mrs Spragg transmitted a text which expressed: "We are sitting near the McCanns' house with our lights out like investigators. I had hoped to do this with another person I hadn't anticipated I would be involved in this with the McCanns."
The case continues.