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A memorial service was held to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the disappearance of young Madeleine McCann last night – but why was a Polish woman, clutching a note for the youngster’s parents, among those attending?
Julia Wendell, 22, became infamous last year after she claimed on social media she was in fact the missing girl, who disappeared from Praia da Luz in Portugal on May 3 2007 as her parents Kate and Gerry went out for dinner.
Posting on Instagram as @iammadeleinemccann, Ms Wendell claimed she could not remember her childhood and was convinced she looked physically similar to Madeleine. Her claims horrified millions and distressed her Polish family.
A DNA test carried out with the help of celebrity psychic Dr Fia Johansson last year concluded Ms Wendell was ‘100 per cent Polish’ – but the ‘faker’ nevertheless turned up at the Leicestershire memorial servicehoping to ask the …