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Maddie McCann twin siblings, Amelie and Sean, have told the court that their encounters with an alleged stalker were extremely disturbing and unsettling. The siblings explained feeling stressed and frightened by a woman who claimed she was their long-lost sister.

Persistent Contact Described as Scary

Appearing via video link, Amelie stated how the accused, the 24-year-old, reached out to her repeatedly through social media and letters. She said the relentlessness was quite frightening because it's impossible to predict what she’ll do next.

Messages from the defendant were read in court, in which she recounted recollections of being in the family home that she said were recalled during hypnotherapy. She testified, It’s quite upsetting that she's inventing these alleged recollections, despite the fact she’s not Madeleine.

Altered Images Heightened Unease

The court heard that Wandelt had created images of herself and Amelie as young girls, which the prosecution alleged were made with AI tools. Some of these images were sent through social media, while others were produced physically and included in a mail to her.

Amelie said, It was unpleasant, it caused me to feel very uncomfortable. She had clearly edited the images to make me look more like her, which was very disturbing. I knew I didn’t look like that, I understood it had been manipulated.

Emotional Impact on the Household

Amelie also discussed the impact of the supposed stalking on her mother, Kate, who gave evidence about being approached at her residence by the defendant and her alleged accomplice, Karen Spragg.

I think my mum found it the hardest. My mother was harassed by the defendant more than the rest of us and I think it definitely had a negative effect on her and her wellbeing, Amelie testified. It's distressing when someone’s pleading with you to accept their claims and playing with your feelings, to the extent you are questioning yourself.

Brother's Statement on Anxiety and Online Scrutiny

In a testimony presented to the court, Sean McCann stated that personally, he had not been severely affected by Wandelt's accused harassment. However he had been upset that she was drawing social media scrutiny, with people posting nasty and unfair comments about his mother and father.

If she was not mentally ill and was fully aware she is not Maddie, yet continues to assert she is, that would be very upsetting for me, he said. I do not believe she is my sibling. The fact that the defendant is doing this has caused me a great deal of stress and I find it profoundly troubling.

Wandelt and Spragg deny stalking the family household. The trial continue.