Woman Who Claimed to Be Madeleine McCann Sentenced for Harassment

For nearly two decades, the Macan family has endured the unimaginable pain of losing their daughter, Meline Macan, a young girl who vanished under tragic circumstances.

But in recent years, that anguish has been compounded by the actions of a woman who falsely claimed to be Meline, relentlessly targeting her family and causing further distress.

Julia Vanelt, a Polish national, became fixated on the idea that she might be Meline Macan.

According to her statements, she first entertained this possibility in June 2022, when she began to believe she could be the missing child.

However, her pursuit quickly escalated into behavior that authorities and the family described as harassment, with repeated attempts to contact the Macans, intrude into their lives, and demand a DNA test to prove her claim.

Early Contact and Initial Warnings

Before approaching the Macan family directly, Julia had contacted a Polish missing persons charity run by Ivona Modi Borska, seeking assistance in confirming her identity.

Borska reportedly advised her that she was not Meline Macan, but Julia did not heed this guidance.

Instead, she persisted, showing determination and a pre-prepared narrative that suggested prior childhood memories of Meline and even sending doctored photographs to support her supposed resemblance.

Experts who observed Julia’s behavior believe that her motivations were not rooted in genuine belief.

“She was looking for fame,” Borska noted.

“This was her objective.

I do not think she genuinely believed she was Meline.

She was clearly a troubled young woman.

” Julia’s history included personal trauma, including childhood abuse, which may have contributed to her fixation on being a missing child, but her actions increasingly crossed legal and ethical boundaries.

Escalation to Direct Harassment

Despite repeated assurances that she was not Meline, Julia began contacting the Macan family directly, often making dozens of calls and leaving numerous voicemails each day—at times, reportedly as many as 60 in a single day.

She attended public vigils for Meline in the family’s home village of Leicester, attempting to interact with relatives and confront the parents.

On one occasion, a Metropolitan Police officer personally warned Julia, telling her: “You are not Meline Macan.

If you go to Leicester again, there are offenses called harassment here.

If you cause any harassment, you could be arrested.”

Despite these warnings, Julia refused to cease her pursuit, stating that she would “never give up” and insisting she had a right to find out who she was.

Her behavior did not occur in isolation; she was supported by an associate, Karen Sprag, who accompanied her to Leicester, arranged accommodations, and assisted her in confronting the Macan family.

Video evidence showed Julia approaching Kate Macan in the dark on her driveway, pleading with her to agree to a DNA test, while Karen Sprag followed closely behind, aggressively questioning, “Don’t you want to find your daughter?” Similar confrontations occurred with Jerry Macan, and notes signed “Meline” were later left at the family’s home.

These actions caused significant distress, with family members recounting feelings of fear and alarm at being confronted in such a personal and invasive manner.

Legal Proceedings and Conviction

After her arrest, a DNA test conclusively demonstrated that Julia was not Meline Macan.

Nonetheless, she maintained her belief that she was the missing child.

The case proceeded to court, where evidence of repeated harassment, doctored photographs, unsolicited contact, and confrontations at the family home were presented.

During the trial, Ivona Modi Borska highlighted the calculated nature of Julia’s actions.

“She must have known the distress it would cause,” Borska said.

“She didn’t care.

Any normal person is aware that this is a family who has been struggling for many years, living a nightmare.

How could she not know?”

On the final day of the proceedings, Julia Vanelt was sentenced to six months in prison—the maximum term for the charge of harassment.

By the time of sentencing, she had already served more than six months in custody since her arrest in February, although she remained in detention pending a decision by the Secretary of State regarding potential deportation back to Poland.

The judge emphasized that Julia’s assertions were entirely without legal basis.

She described the harassment as “unwarranted, unkind, and criminal,” noting that Kate and Jerry Macan had endured immense suffering over the years, which was exacerbated by Julia’s persistent behavior.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a restraining order prohibiting Julia from ever contacting the Macans, returning to Leicester, or publishing commentary about the case online.

Karen Sprag, although cleared of all charges, was also included in a restraining order due to her involvement in assisting Julia’s confrontations.

Public and Emotional Impact

The case underscores the additional trauma that families of missing children can face when opportunistic individuals claim to be the missing person.

While the Macans’ original grief stems from the unresolved disappearance of their daughter, Julia’s relentless pursuit intensified their emotional burden.

Meline Macan’s sister, Amily, testified to the court about Julia’s behavior, detailing how she falsely claimed childhood memories of the family and sent manipulated photographs to convince them of her identity.

These actions illustrate the meticulous preparation Julia undertook, which reinforced the impression that her pursuit was driven less by a genuine desire for truth and more by attention-seeking and psychological factors.

The case also highlights the challenges of navigating claims made by individuals with complex personal histories.

Julia herself had experienced abuse in childhood and has expressed a desire to discover her own identity.

However, the means she employed to pursue that goal were invasive and caused demonstrable harm.

The court determined that her motivations did not excuse her behavior and that legal intervention was necessary to protect the Macan family from further harassment.

Broader Implications

This case has drawn attention to the ways in which high-profile missing person cases can attract false claims and exploitation.

Families affected by such tragedies often remain in the public eye, making them vulnerable to intrusion by individuals seeking notoriety or validation.

The legal system plays a critical role in balancing the rights of individuals claiming to have a personal connection with missing persons against the rights of families to live without harassment or intimidation.

The restraining orders issued in this case serve as an important precedent, reinforcing the principle that persistent contact, unwelcome confrontation, and intimidation—even when claimed to be motivated by personal trauma—can constitute criminal harassment.

Experts in victim advocacy note that protective measures like restraining orders are essential for families coping with long-term grief, preventing further psychological harm, and maintaining personal safety.

Final Reflections

While Julia Vanelt’s conviction may provide a measure of legal closure, the emotional scars left by her actions are unlikely to be fully healed.

The Macans continue to live with the uncertainty surrounding their missing daughter, and the harassment they endured is an additional, avoidable layer of trauma.

As the court acknowledged, the family had already suffered for many years, and Julia’s behavior exacerbated that suffering.

For her part, Julia expressed a continued belief in her identity as Meline Macan, despite DNA evidence proving otherwise.

This persistent claim underscores the complex interplay between psychological factors and real-world consequences, illustrating the challenges faced by the justice system when addressing cases involving deeply held, albeit false, convictions.

Ultimately, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of false claims on vulnerable families, the responsibilities of individuals seeking answers about their own identities, and the role of law enforcement and the courts in safeguarding victims from harassment.

For the Macans, the legal resolution provides formal protection, but the emotional journey of coping with their daughter’s disappearance—and the distress caused by Julia Vanelt—remains ongoing.