A Polish woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann did not want to give her family "false hope".
Julia Wandelt, 24, testified at Leicester Crown Court as the defendant in a trial where she is accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann.
She said that she had recollections of playing Ring a Ring o' Roses with Madeleine's siblings, and gave details about their family home, which "came to be true".
The woman told the court that memories recovered through hypnosis are "genuine".
The defendant appeared to accept that she might not be the missing child, stating she was "willing to accept" the police's findings.
Yet she maintained she could not dismiss her memories "if it was true", leaving her uncertain about her true identity.
Prosecutors have accused Ms Wandelt of harassing Madeleine's parents through repeated contact over an eight-month period.
The alleged stalking campaign involved sending emails, making telephone calls and appearing at their home address between June 2022 and February this year.
A Polish woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann did not want to give her family 'false hope'
| Instagram @iammadeleinemccannThe court heard that Ms Wandelt first contacted Operation Grange in June 2022, sending an email that began: "Hello, I'm writing to you because I think I might be Madeleine McCann."
She presented eight reasons supporting her belief that she was the missing child.
Ms Wandelt, from Lubin in south-west Poland, faces trial alongside 61-year-old Karen Spragg from Caerau, Cardiff.
Both women have pleaded not guilty to stalking charges.
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Julia Wandelt claimed to be a 69.23 per cent match to Madeleine McCann | GO GET FUNDINGDuring her testimony, Ms Wandelt explained her longstanding doubts about her Polish heritage, citing physical differences from the couple who raised her in Wrocław.
She revealed that she had requested DNA testing from them to verify their relationship.
The court heard that relaxation hypnosis sessions had triggered what she described as childhood memories involving the McCann family.
Ms Wandelt reportedly contacted Madeleine's sister, Amelie McCann, aged 20, describing her as "my only hope" of proving her connection to the missing child.
Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007
| PAWhen questioned about her identity in court, she responded: "Yes, according to court documents," whilst maintaining: "I don't believe I am their daughter."
Ms Wandelt expressed frustration with law enforcement's handling of her case, stating: "If the police treated their daughter's case the way they treated me, I'm not surprised they didn't find their daughter."
She criticised the Metropolitan Police for refusing to arrange DNA testing, suggesting their approach demonstrated why Madeleine remains missing.
She told jurors: "The police are not interested in finding Kate and Gerry's daughter. I still don't know why they didn't want to do this DNA test."
Ms Wandelt said she felt 'sympathy' for the McCann family
| PADespite spending eight months in custody, Ms Wandelt said she felt "sympathy" for the McCann family.
She became emotional whilst insisting her search wasn't motivated by publicity, stating: "I just wanted to find out who I am."
The trial continues.
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