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Maddie McCann's brother and sister, Amelie and Sean, have told the court that their interactions with an alleged stalker were extremely upsetting and unsettling. The siblings explained feeling anxious and frightened by a woman who insisted she was their long-lost sister.

Persistent Communication Detailed as Scary

Testifying remotely, Amelie stated how the defendant, the 24-year-old, contacted her repeatedly through online platforms and written correspondence. She said the persistence was very frightening since it's impossible to predict what her next move might be.

Messages from Wandelt were read in court, in which she recounted recollections of being in the McCann household that she said were recovered during hypnotherapy. Amelie testified, It’s quite upsetting that she’s coming up with these supposed recollections, despite the fact she isn't Madeleine.

Fabricated Images Increased Unease

The court heard that Wandelt had produced pictures of Amelie and herself as young girls, which the prosecution alleged were generated with ChatGPT. Some of these images were sent through online channels, while additional ones were printed and included in a letter to her.

She said, It was unpleasant, it caused me to feel very uncomfortable. She had clearly altered the images to make me appear similar to her, which was very distressing. I was aware I didn't resemble that, I knew it had been manipulated.

Emotional Toll on the Family

Amelie also spoke about the effect of the alleged stalking on her parent, Kate, who testified about being approached at home by Wandelt and her co-defendant, a 61-year-old woman.

I think my mum experienced it as the most difficult. My mother was harassed by the defendant more than the rest of us and I believe it definitely took its toll on her and her wellbeing, she said. It’s upsetting when someone’s begging you to accept their claims and playing with your emotions, to the extent you are questioning yourself.

Brother's Statement on Anxiety and Online Attention

In a testimony read to the trial, Sean McCann said that personally, he had not been too badly affected by Wandelt's accused stalking. However he had been distressed that she was drawing social media scrutiny, with people posting hurtful and unjust comments about his mother and father.

If Wandelt was not suffering from a psychological condition and was completely conscious she is not Madeleine, yet continues to assert she is, that will be very distressing for me, he said. I do not believe she is my sibling. The reality that the defendant is doing this has caused me a great deal of anxiety and I find it deeply disturbing.

The defendant and Spragg deny stalking the McCann family. The trial are ongoing.