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Madeleine McCann's brother and sister, Amelie and Sean, have testified in court that their encounters with an alleged stalker were extremely upsetting and creepy. They explained feeling anxious and scared by a woman who insisted she was their missing sister.

Persistent Contact Described as Frightening

Testifying remotely, she stated how the accused, the 24-year-old, contacted her repeatedly through online platforms and written correspondence. She said the relentlessness was very scary because it's impossible to predict what her next move might be.

Communications from Wandelt were presented in court, in which she recounted recollections of living in the McCann household that she claimed were recovered during hypnotherapy. She testified, It's very disturbing that she’s coming up with these alleged recollections, even though she isn't Madeleine.

Altered Images Heightened Unease

The court heard that the accused had created images of herself and Amelie as children, which the prosecution said were made with ChatGPT. A number of these images were transmitted through social media, while additional ones were produced physically and enclosed in a mail to her.

She stated, I didn’t like it, it caused me to feel very uncomfortable. It was evident she edited the pictures to make me appear similar to her, which was very disturbing. I was aware I didn't resemble that, I understood it had been changed.

Emotional Impact on the Family

She also spoke about the effect of the supposed harassment on her parent, Kate, who gave evidence about being approached at her residence by the defendant and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg.

In my opinion my mother experienced it as the hardest. She was targeted by the defendant more than the others in the family and I think it definitely took its toll on her and her mental health, Amelie said. It’s upsetting when someone’s begging you to believe them and playing with your feelings, to the point you are doubting your own judgment.

Brother's Statement on Anxiety and Digital Scrutiny

In a witness statement read to the court, Sean McCann said that for him, he had not been severely affected by Wandelt's alleged harassment. But he had been distressed that she was drawing social media scrutiny, with people posting hurtful and unjust comments about his parents.

If Wandelt was not mentally ill and was completely conscious she is not Maddie, yet makes these claims, that will be very upsetting for me, he testified. I do not believe she is my sibling. The reality that the defendant is engaging in this behavior has resulted in a great deal of anxiety and I find it profoundly disturbing.

The defendant and Spragg deny stalking the family family. The trial continue.