A Polish woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann has said she made the announcement on social media to “make noise for the police”.
Julia Wandelt, 24, was giving evidence at Leicester Crown Court, where she is accused of stalking the missing Briton’s family.
Prosecutors have accused Ms Wandelt of harassing Madeleine's parents through repeated contact over an eight-month period, aided by her co-defendant Karen Spragg.
The alleged stalking campaign involved sending emails, making telephone calls, and appearing at their home address between June 2022 and February this year.
On the third day of proceedings, Ms Wandelt was questioned by Ms Spragg's defence lawyer, Russell Flint KC.
Mr Flint read to the court a message exchange between Ms Spragg and Madeleine's mother, Kate, regarding Ms Wandelt’s Instagram account.
The 24-year-old claimed that she was the missing girl on the profile.
Ms Spaagg was heard to have said her co-defendant “made a mistake” with the definitive affirmation.
Madeleine McCann impersonator Julia Wandelt is in court accused of stalking the missing girl's parents
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Mr Flint then asked Ms Wandelt if the declaration was an error in translation from Polish and if she instead meant to say: "I think I may be Madeleine McCann."
The Polish national denied this line of questioning, insisting the decision was deliberate.
“I wanted people to see, to make a noise for the police,” she answered.
"I thought it was the easiest way to get a reaction from the police. But I was wrong.
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Ms Wandelt said she claimed to be Madeleine on social media to 'make noise for the police'
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“But in every post, in every live, I said I think I am,” she added.
Later in the proceedings, prosecutor Michael Duck KC asked Ms Wandelt three times if she still believed she was Madeleine McCann.
"It's neither yes or no," the 24-year-old eventually responded.
Ms Wandelt then said she wanted to see the paperwork regarding a DNA test that determined she was not the missing girl.
Ms Wandelt was questioned by her co-defendant Karen Spragg's lawyer
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A DNA test taken from her on her arrest in February 2025 "conclusively proved" she is not the missing child, the jury was told previously.
When asked again about her identity, Ms Wandelt responded: "It's not yes, and it's not no, I'm in between.”
Mr Duck then asked if any evidence would ever be sufficient for her.
"The investigation into what happened to me... why am I here?” Ms Wandelt answered before breaking into tears.
The trial continues.
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