A WOMAN has been charged with the stalking of Madeleine McCann’s family over nine months.
Karen Spragg, 60, of Caerau, Cardiff, has been charged with one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, cops said.
She will appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
On the same day Julia Wandel, 23, of Lubin, Poland, will appear at Leicester Crown Court.
She has been charged with four counts of stalking against the family.
Wandel is accused of stalking Kate, Gerry, Sean and Amelie McCann between January 3, 2024 and February 15, 2025.
She is alleged to have gone to the family home on May 2 and December 7 last year.
The 23-year-old is also accused of sending a letter, calls, voicemails and WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry McCann.
She allegedly sent Amelie and Sean McCann Instagram messages between January 3 and December 29 last year.
A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said: “A 60-year-old woman has been charged with a stalking offence as part of an ongoing investigation by Leicestershire Police.
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“Karen Spragg has been charged with one of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.
“The charges relates to an offence between 3 May 2024 and 21 February 2025.
“Spragg, of Caerau Court Road, Caerau, Cardiff, was arrested earlier today (Thursday 27 March).
“She is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Friday).
“In February Julia Wandel, 23, of Lubin, Poland, was charged with four counts of stalking as part of the same investigation.”
Madeleine McCann’s disappearance
MADELEINE McCann vanished on May 3, 2007 – and cops believe Brueckner could have been behind her disappearance.
Almost 17 years on, no one has been charged in connection. These are the key dates
May 3, 2007 – Kate McCann finds Madeleine missing at 10pm
May 14, 2007 – Property developer Robert Murat is named an “arguido” or formal suspect
August 31, 2007 – The McCanns launch libel action against Tal e Qual – a newspaper that claimed the couple killed Madeleine
September 7, 2007 – Kate and Gerry McCann are made “arguidos”
September 9, 2007– Madeleine’s parents return to England with their two-year-old twins
October 2, 2007– Lead detective Goncalo Amaral is taken off the case after criticising British police in a newspaper interview
July 21, 2009 – Portuguese police lift the “arguido” status of both Robert Murat and the McCanns
May 12, 2011 – On Madeleine’s eighth birthday, Scotland Yard launches a review into the case
April 25, 2012 – Scotland Yard officers say they believe Madeleine McCann is still alive
July 4, 2013 – Two years into a review of the case, Scotland Yard launched its own investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance
October 24, 2013– Portuguese police reopen their case after new lines of inquiry are found
November 27, 2013 – Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe called for British and Portuguese police to work together
October 28, 2015 – Scotland Yard reduces the number of officers working on Madeleine’s disappearance
March 11, 2017 – The Home Office grants Operation Grange an extra £85,000 to continue from April until September
September 28, 2017 – British police are granted £154,000 to keep the probe going until March 2018
November 2017 – Cops moved the search to Bulgaria
May 2018 – Another round of funding, thought to be in the region of £150,000 is granted
September 2018 – An extra six months of funding is requested from the Home Office
November 2018 – More funding, thought to be in the region of £150,000 is granted
November 2018 – UK police re-examine a theory Madeleine left the apartment to look for her parents
June 2019 – Another round of funding, believed to be £300,000 of government cash is granted
June 2019 – Portuguese police are probing a “new clue and suspect” after talks with British officers
June 2020 – New prime suspect revealed as a German paedo Christian Brueckner
April 2022 – Brueckner formally made an “arguido”
May 2023 – Police search remote Algarve reservoir Brueckner called his “little paradise”
