Polish nationalist Julia Wandelt, who many times claimed she was nan missing British kid Madeleine McCann, has been sentenced to six months successful situation for harassing nan McCann family, according to unrecorded sum from BBC News.
The 24-year-old from Lubin, south-west Poland, was recovered blameworthy of harassment but cleared of stalking by a assemblage astatine Leicester Crown Court. Her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, was acquitted of each charges.
‘No technological evidence’ linking Wandelt to nan McCanns
During nan five-week trial, Wandelt burst into tears erstwhile lawyers told her location was “no technological evidence” linking her to nan McCann family.
Earlier forensic testing successful 2023 had already shown that Wandelt’s DNA indicated Polish and Eastern European ancestry, pinch nary familial lucifer to nan McCanns.
At 2:07 p.m. GMT connected November 7, Mrs Justice Cutts sentenced Wandelt to six months’ imprisonment, nan maximum permitted for harassment offences.
Her mobile phones will beryllium forfeited and destroyed, and nan tribunal heard she is apt to beryllium deported to Poland pursuing her sentence.
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC said nan McCanns “have a very existent interest this could hap again” and requested a restraining bid banning Wandelt from contacting nan family aliases entering Leicestershire, wherever they live.
BBC newsman Isaac Ashe described proceeding Wandelt sobbing from nan broadside room arsenic she awaited sentencing, her cries “almost drowning retired discussions successful tribunal betwixt nan judge and prosecutor.”
Co-defendant Spragg, who was cleared, sat successful nan nationalist assemblage reportedly chatting pinch supporters and joked she “might beryllium getting a vessel of champagne.”
Julia Wandelt’s claims to beryllium nan missing British woman Madeleine McCann
Wandelt roseate to online prominence successful early 2023 aft posting viral Instagram videos and appearing connected Dr Phil successful nan US, claiming she mightiness beryllium nan long-missing Madeleine McCann.
Subsequent DNA testing disproved that claim. Despite this, prosecutors said she continued to prosecute interaction pinch nan McCann family done messages, letters and online activity.
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