mccanns alleged stalker 'told tapas 7 couple she was poisoned in murder bid'

Close friends of the McCanns were also allegedly targeted (Picture: AFP)

A Polish woman accused of stalking the McCanns claiming to be their missing daughter Madeleine told a member of the ‘Tapas Seven’ she could help ‘clear their names’ if they helped her contact the family,a court heard.

Julia Wandelt,24,contacted David and Fiona Payne,who were among the seven friends dining with Kate and Gerry McCann on the night Maddie disappeared.

In one message played during her trial at Leicester Crown Court,Wandelt asked for the McCanns’ blood groups and wrote: ‘I was given so many medications as a child… some can cause memory loss.

‘I was given big doses of those medications. Can you look at my medical records and give your opinion? I believe it’s possible it was attempted murder because I was given huge doses of medication.’

Wandelt,from Lubin in south-west Poland,suggested that if she did a DNA test with the McCanns,members of the ‘tapas group’ could ‘clear your names’,the court heard.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.Mr and Mrs Payne,who have been ‘very close friends’ to the McCanns for around 25 years,gave evidence on Wednesday and said Wandelt called them and sent them both messages last year.Mrs Payne told the court she was ‘angry’ that Wandelt sent friend requests and messages to their daughter.Fiona Payne (centre) and her husband were a part of the ‘tapas group’ the night Maddie disappeared (Picture: AFP)She said: ‘It’s really difficult actually.‘I think she’s a vulnerable young adult who has been adversely affected by Madeleine’s disappearance.‘She has the good sense to ignore these messages.‘I feel angry actually that she (Wandelt) sought to manipulate her in that way.’Speaking about the messages sent to her family more generally,Mrs Payne told the court: ‘It’s disturbing.‘We have had a lot of contact from various people over the years,reporters and the like wanting information or people with conspiracy theories,however we have never been contacted by anyone who thinks they could be Madeleine.’Prosecutors allege Wandelt peddled the myth that she was Madeleine,who went missing in 2007 during a family holiday,while stalking Kate and Gerry McCann,by sending emails,making phone calls and turning up at their address between June 2022 and February this year.Recordings of two phone calls between Wandelt and Mr Payne on October 8 and 9 last year were played to the court.In the first, Wandelt is heard to say: ‘Please connect me with Kate and Gerry.‘Operation Grange threatened me,and I never lied.’In a call the next day, Wandelt asked for a DNA test before Mr Payne said: ‘I don’t know who you are.’Wandelt replied: ‘I’m Julia Wandelt. I’m trying everywhere. All doors are closed. I truly believe I might be Madeleine.’Mr Payne told the jury: ‘I get a lot of phone calls and when you get someone ringing up in such a nature,it’s quite upsetting.‘I feel there was nothing I could provide during that conversation,as I alluded to.’Madeleine disappeared in 2007 on holiday in Portugal (Picture: Getty)In a series of messages after these phone calls, Wandelt wrote: ‘I could hear the sadness in your voice David.‘You are literally the only person connected to Kate and Gerry McCann who answered my call and spoke with me a little bit.‘You are my only hope David,help me please.’In another message she said: ‘This could end your years of trauma and criticism too.‘As a member of the tapas group you could clear your names.‘I can send all my evidence for review if you can find the strength to help me.’Wandelt and her co-defendant 61-year-old Karen Spragg,of Caerau,Cardiff,both deny one count of stalking.The trial will continue on Monday.