A Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann has been charged with stalking offences following her arrest at Bristol Airport. Julia Wandel, 23, was held moments after landing in the UK on Wednesday. Leicestershire Police said Wandel - also known as Julia Wandelt - is accused of four counts of stalking.
It is understood this relates to Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann. Wandel, of Lubin, Poland, will appear in custody at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Friday. A police spokesman said: “Two counts relate to offences between 2 May 2024 and 15 February 2025, a third count relates to offences between 3 January 2024 and 21 April 2024, and the fourth count for offences between 27 November 2024 and 29 December 2024.”.
Wandel flew in from Wroclaw, Poland and had been due to meet a friend when she was surrounded by officers in front of stunned jet passengers at around 8pm. Her friend – aged 60 and from Cardiff - was also detained on suspicion of stalking. She has been released on police bail.
Both arrests were carried out by the Avon and Somerset Police on behalf of the Leicestershire force where the McCanns live. Madeleine, from Rothley, was three when she went missing from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia de Luz Portugal on May 3, 2007.
