Polish woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann charged with stalking after UK arrest
A Polish woman who has claimed she could be Madeleine McCann has been charged with four counts of stalking the missing girl's family.
Julia Wandel, 23, also known as Julia Wandelt, has been charged with four counts of stalking after being arrested at Bristol Airport on Wednesday, Leicestershire Police said.
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Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Love Island star who was 'business brain' of £53m drug cartel learns her fate
Crime bosses called her 'Barbie' - Magdalena Sadlo, 30, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after using her management skills to prepare accounts for an international gang A Love Island star dubbed 'Barbie' who was the 'business brain' for a £53m drugs cartel was jailed for 14 years today. Magdalena Sadlo, 30, used her management skills to prepare criminal accounts for crime bosses based in the Middle East. She was nicknamed 'Barbie', and in one message, she quipped: 'The devil works hard, but Barbie works harder.' Cartel members based in Dubai had masterminded a conspiracy to ship enormous sums of cocaine into the UK. Sadlo, star of the 2021 Polish version of Love Island, was drafted in to help. Tim Evans, prosecuting, told Carlisle Crown Court that the gang engaged in multi-faceted illegal activity. Detectives from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit detained Sadlo as she flew into the UK on February 13, 2024. Travelling first class with Emirates from Dubai, she was carrying a £130,000 rose gold Patek Phillipe watch, a £30,000 Rolex timepiece with Cartier bracelets and rings, bought with proceeds of crime, and a CV boasting her business acumen and qualifications. As a courier for the gang, Sadlo repeatedly collected vast quantities of cocaine as it was imported into the port of Harwich. A police drug expert concluded she could have trafficked almost 300kg of cocaine in seven trips, including 33kg to Manchester. Over several months she transported it around England in BMWs during 'whistle-stop' tours. Cocaine was stored initially in safe houses and then moved around the country by a team of trusted drivers for supply to addicts. Sadlo was a trusted financial director, documenting many millions of pounds in drug transactions on spreadsheets. Mr Evans said: 'She not only manages the profits, costs and expenses but also manages the stock levels, the profit margins involved... No organised crime group at this level could operate or function without Magdalena Sadlo, or an equivalent, performing this role.' Sadlo was 'enthusiastically, relentlessly efficient in her accounting', scolding major players when they did not meet her high standards. Officers also seized mobile phones and laptops with spreadsheets which showed ketamine and cannabis was also being supplied. After Sadlo provided PIN details, officers also unearthed a mass of encrypted group chat messages. In these, she and other high ranking crooks discussed vast amounts of money linked to drug supply. On one phone, Sadlo made web searches for '50kg cocaine June news UK' and 'which countries have the death penalty for drugs'. 'She clearly knew the scale and seriousness of the trade she was engaging in,' said Mr Evans. Sadlo, of Bracknell, admitted conspiring to supply cocaine, cannabis and ketamine; and conspiracy to launder money. Twelve men have already been handed sentences totalling more than 100 years for their role in a plot. Judge Nicholas Barker likened the illegal activity to 'unrolling a ball of wool around the world '. Defence barrister Peter Corrigan said Sadlo disputed elements of the prosecution case. She had played a lesser criminal role than alleged, said Mr Corrigan, against the background of drug addiction. In a letter, Sadlo expressed remorse after falling on hard times. She was highly regarded by friends and family, the court heard. Judge Barker concluded Sadlo, as a courier, was 'central' in the collection of that drug and onward distribution. 'I conclude there was gain and reward and in some way considerable to you,' said Judge Barker. 'You are an intelligent woman and well understand risk and reward.' He told the defendant: 'I find you acted with real enthusiasm and sought to impress those at the top.' Sadlo also managed encrypted communications with senior cartel members and maintained detailed spreadsheets tracking stock levels, customer payments, expenses, and profits. Messages recovered included: 'Having a good month, done 95895 in profit so far from orders,' and 'Yeah finding it much better doing sit downs for an hour at a time when I can update it.' Sadlo was described as performing a managerial role within the international cartel, effectively acting as an accounts manager for the criminal enterprise. She was jailed for 14 years after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine), Class B drugs (cannabis and ketamine), and conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer, or remove criminal Superintendent Zoe Russo, NWROCU, said: 'Operation Matrix has resulted in the conviction of 13 individuals and prison sentences totalling over 140 years. These convictions strike a significant blow to the supply of drugs across the North West and the UK as we continue to remove top-end controllers of international drug supply.'Magdalena Sadlo's arrest and conviction highlight the reach and complexity of this operation. She played a key role in managing international drug supply and laundering criminal profits, and will now face the consequences of her actions behind bars.'We hope this investigation sends a clear message that whatever your role is in drug trafficking, we will find you, investigate you, and bring you to justice. We are committed to ridding the streets of drugs, robustly dealing with high harm offenders to reduce crime and restore trust and confidence in communities across the North West.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Gun found in new Madeleine McCann search ‘has not been ruled out as a game-changer' amid race against time to charge prime suspect Christian Bruekner
The gun retrieved from a well drained by firefighters last week during fresh Madeleine McCann searches on the Algarve has not been ruled out as a game changer by investigators. Further details emerged hours after German prosecutors described the co-operation with Portuguese police as 'excellent and very constructive' as authorities in both countries continue to try to build up a case against suspect Christian Brueckner ahead of his scheduled release from prison in September. The type of gun discovered during the three-day search operation last week near Brueckner's former ramshackle cottage home close to the Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007, has not yet been revealed, but well-placed sources said today it was a 6.35 calibre. Typically these types of guns are small, pocket-sized, semi-automatic pistols used for self-defence or target shooting, but can be airguns. Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported yesterday it was unlikely to be a 'lethal weapon' although tests are understood to be ongoing. It has not yet been ruled out as a potential game-changer in the 'race against time' to charge Brueckner over Madeleine's disappearance before he finishes the seven-year prison sentence he is currently serving for the 2005 rape of an American woman. Another gun said to have been found during last week's searches has been ruled out. It is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been described by Portuguese sources as a 'rusting relic.' The same well-placed sources confirmed yesterday forensic analysis of fragments of bones and adult clothing also unearthed last week would take place at a specialist police lab in Lisbon and not in Germany as initially reported. No samples of any kind have been sent back to Germany despite reports to the contrary, the insiders said. German forensic officers have been offered the opportunity of being present at the tests, although it was unclear today if they had accepted the invite. They were shown some of the bones that were unearthed, thought to be animal bones, in a video-conferencing session but were 'unable to come to any real conclusions about exactly what they were'. German prosecutors said yesterday in their only official statement so far since wells, ruins and water tanks across a 120-acre area in Atalaia between the Algarve towns of Praia and Luz and Lagos were inspected: 'The search operation conducted in Portugal last week has been completed as planned. 'No information can be provided at this time regarding the results of the investigation. 'Our sincere thanks go to all police officers involved in the search. 'The co-operation between the Portuguese police and the Federal Criminal Police Office was excellent and very constructive. 'We don't want to say anymore at the moment.' Luis Neves, the National Director of the Policia Judiciaria police force which in Portugal has been the lead police force in the hunt for Madeleine and whose officers worked along German counterparts at last week's search, insisted last Friday it had 'not been in vain' despite the apparent lack of results. He said: 'Nothing is in vain, not least because doors are being closed'. At the last Madeleine McCann search in Portugal just over two years ago, when the Arade Dam a 40-minute drive from Praia da Luz was combed, German police who requested the operation did take back home with them samples believed to be mainly soil samples. The remote dam was described at the time as Brueckner's 'little paradise.' The May 2023 dam searches were the first major searches in Portugal for Madeleine McCann in nine years following an earlier June 2014 operation when British police were given permission to do digs in Praia da Luz that involved sniffer dogs trained in detecting bodies and ground-penetrating radar. Those Scotland Yard digs were linked to the leading UK police theory at the time Madeleine died during a break-in while her parents were eating tapas nearby with friends, and burglars dumped her body. They also failed to produce any evidence pointing to the missing youngster's whereabouts. In a smaller operation in July 2020 Portuguese police and firefighters searched three wells for Madeleine's body but failed to find any trace of her. Last Friday Correio da Manha claimed German prosecutors had refused to probe a couple suspected of running over Madeleine McCann in a drink-drive accident. Portuguese authorities demanded an investigation into a British man and his German wife after his UK-based sister tipped off cops in 2018 she thought he could be covering up a dark secret about Maddie's disappearance, the newspaper reported. But it said German authorities rejected a Portuguese request to use an undercover police officer with a fake identity to try to befriend the female suspect and firm up their suspicions she was driving a car that hit Madeleine while under the influence of alcohol. There has so far been no official response from German, Portuguese or UK police to the claims. Convicted 48-year-old paedophile Brueckner denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. His earliest possible prison release date is September 17 - though his lawyer said he would have to pay £1,300 in outstanding fines from a series of motor offences to leave then.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
More details emerge on ‘gun found in well' during new Madeleine McCann search amid race against time to charge Brueckner
THE gun found during the fresh search for Madeleine McCann has been revealed as a 6.35 calibre pistol, well-placed sources said today. The gun was reportedly discovered during the three-day search operation last week near to lead suspect Christian Brueckner's former ramshackle cottage in the Praia da Luz area. 2 Young Madeleine vanished on May 3 2007, around the same area, it is believed. Further details emerged hours after German prosecutors praised Portuguese police for their work looking around the scrubland in Praia da Luz last week. Typically 6.35 calibre guns are small, pocket-sized, semi-automatic pistols used for self-defence or fun target shooting, but can be airguns. Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reported yesterday it was unlikely to be a 'lethal weapon' although tests are understood to be ongoing. It has not yet been ruled out as a potential game-changer in the 'race against time' to charge Brueckner over Madeleine's disappearance before he finishes the seven-year prison sentence he is currently serving for the 2005 rape of an American OAP. Another gun said to have been found during last week's searches has been ruled out. It is believed to be more than 50 years old and has been described by Portuguese sources as a 'rusting relic.' The same well-placed sources confirmed yesterday forensic analysis of fragments of bones and adult clothing also unearthed last week would take place at a specialist police lab in Lisbon and not in Germany as initially reported. No samples of any kind have been sent back to Germany despite reports to the contrary, the insiders said. German forensic officers have been offered the opportunity of being present at the tests, although it was unclear today if they had accepted the invite. They were shown some of the bones that were unearthed, thought to be animal bones, in a video-conferencing session but are said to have been 'unable to come to any real conclusions about exactly what they were' via the screen. German prosecutors said yesterday in their only official statement so far since wells, ruins and water tanks across a 120-acre area in Atalaia between the Algarve towns of Praia and Luz and Lagos were inspected: 'The search operation conducted in Portugal last week has been completed as planned. 'No information can be provided at this time regarding the results of the investigation. 'Our sincere thanks go to all police officers involved in the search. 'The co-operation between the Portuguese police and the Federal Criminal Police Office was excellent and very constructive. 'We don't want to say anymore at the moment.'
