Julia Vandell received a six-month sentence for the harassment of the parents of Madeleine McCann

• Julia Vandell received a six-month sentence for the harassment of the parents of Madeleine McCann.
• The court found that Vandell is not Madeleine, despite her claims.
• Vandell planned to collect DNA from Kate McCann, which included a view of the body.

Julia Vandell was found guilty in the harassment of the parents of the missing girl Madeleine McCann, but was acquitted of more serious charges of stalking. Vandell, 24, who lives in Poland, for two years claimed to be Madeleine, who disappeared during a vacation in Portugal in 2007.

The Leicester Crown Court found Vandell guilty of a lesser crime, sentencing her to six months in custody, which she has already served, as she was under supervision since the summer. During the court proceedings, the parents of Madeleine, Kate and Gerry McCann, expressed that they were not pleased with the outcome, but they hope that Vandell receives the necessary help.

Judge Miss Justice Kathryn Katts stated that Vandell did not have a limited number of reasons for her actions. She received a restraining order that prohibits her and her partner, Karen Spragg, from contacting the McCanns or leaving Leicestershire.

Vandell started communicating with the McCann family through a lawyer, where their parents work, in June 2022. She sent numerous messages and wanted to get a DNA test. The court found that Vandell was active on social media, where she gathered support.

The court considered numerous testimonies, including those about how Vandell tried to connect with the younger brothers and sisters of Madeleine through social media. During the interrogation, she claimed that she still sees herself as "50-50" regarding her identity, despite the results of the DNA test, which confirmed that she is not Madeleine.

The court also found that Vandell and Spragg had a plan to collect DNA from Kate McCann, which included a view of the body of the family. Vandell was found guilty in the harassment, but not in stalking, thus Spragg was acquitted.

After the verdict, Vandell may be deported, as the court found that she poses a "significant risk" to the McCann family in the future.

Tags: Crime