Couple who were part of ‘Tapas 7’ when Madeleine McCann went missing speak for first time to give evidence against family’s ‘stalker’

Two members of the ‘Tapas Seven’ said they were sent ‘disturbing’ messages by a Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann.

David and Fiona Payne, who were on holiday with Kate and Gerry McCann when Madeleine disappeared, gave evidence against 24-year-old Julia Wandelt in court on Wednesday.

The couple, members of the so-called Tapas Seven who dined together at a restaurant in Portugal on the night of May 2007, spoke about the impact Madeleine’s disappearance had on them and the McCanns.

They had never spoken publicly about this case before.

Ms Payne, an anesthetist, became emotional as she described how Wandelt had also contacted his daughter Lily, who was the same age as Madeleine at the time of her disappearance.

He said the messages sent to him were “a little more emotional and persuasive” than the messages he received.

Prosecutor Nadia Silver said: How did you feel when you found out your daughter had been contacted in this way?

Ms Payne replied: ‘It’s really difficult; he is a vulnerable young adult negatively affected by Madeleine’s disappearance.

‘He has the good sense to ignore these messages. I actually felt angry that he was trying to manipulate her like that.

He continued: ‘It’s disturbing that we’ve had a lot of unsolicited contact over the years from various individuals, reporters and the like, people with conspiracy theories and people of all kinds, but we’ve never been contacted by anyone who thinks they might be Madeleine.’

Mr and Mrs Payne gave evidence in court today against 24-year-old Julia Wandelt (pictured)

Wandelt is accused of stalking Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, between June 2022 and February 2025, bombarding them with phone calls, letters and messages claiming to be their daughter and demanding DNA testing.

He also had co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, of Caerau Court Road, Caerau, Cardiff, deny an allegation of harassment.

Jurors were told Ms Payne and Ms McCann had been friends for more than 20 years and first met while working together at Leicester General Hospital.

Ms Payne said: ‘We’ve been firm friends ever since, very close friends.’

He said he first learned that Wandelt had contacted Ms McCann in the spring of last year.

‘I was meeting Kate regularly for walks or coffee in Bradgate Park and learned from a woman claiming to be Madeleine that she had reported regular contact. ‘I remember Kate being very upset about this and talking about it at length.’

Madeleine McCann disappeared while on holiday with her family in Portugal on May 3, 2007.

Ms Payne said the telephone number was made public when Portuguese police published their files on the investigation into Madeleine online.

Like Ms McCann, he has not changed his mind since. Jurors were told Wandelt called him three times and messaged him on Facebook.

Wandelt said in a message that he had contacted Ms Payne and read that she was ‘one of the few people who still believe Madeleine is alive’.

Earlier, her husband, David, a doctor, had told her why she did not block Wandelt’s number after he called her, nor did he send her texts and emails begging her to contact Mr. and Mrs. McCann and look at her medical records.

He was asked if he was part of Tapas Seven. he replied: ‘That’s a reference that I believe was used by the press but I don’t associate it with that.’

In messages and calls, Wandelt said he could “hear the sadness” in her voice and that he could help “clear your names.”

He also forwarded photographs of the McCanns, the Payne family and their daughter, which he said were sent by someone ‘close’ to the McCanns, and claimed there was ‘evidence’ that he believed Madeleine was the source of the photographs.

Mr Payne said it left him feeling ‘surprised and concerned’.

The court also heard the woman sent him a text saying “Merry Christmas David” on Christmas Eve last year. [followed by a snowflake emoji] The truth will set you all free.’

In a phone call recorded by Wandelt and tendered to the court, he asks Wandelt to put him in touch with the McCanns, to which Mr Payne replies: ‘I’m in no position to help, I’ve been through enough trauma and so have the family.

‘They cannot undo what they believe in. I’m not in a position to help. ‘I’m really sorry we’ve had enough.’

Asked why he didn’t block her number, he replied: ‘Looking back… when you get the first text message you don’t think there will be multiple messages, obviously I’m very busy… there was a part of me too, the nature and content of the messages was concerning and when we knew someone was claiming to be Madeleine and we knew the impact that had on Kate and Gerry.’

On Tuesday the court heard that a DNA comparison by police had ‘conclusively’ proven that Wandelt was not Madeleine, who disappeared from a holiday home in Praia da Luz just eight days before her fourth birthday.

The hearing will continue on Monday.