Madeleine McCann: DNA test provides new answers in search for missing Brit as Polish woman's claims dismissed

Wendell regularly touted the theory in her now deleted Instagram account @iammadeleinemccann.

She used the social media account to share side-by-side childhood photos of both her and Madeleine, claiming they shared the same eye defect.

But private investigator Fia Johansson, who had been helping Wendell, has now confirmed that the pair are not the same person.

"She is absolutely 100 percent from Poland," Johansson said.

"She is a small percentage of Lithuanian and Russian but the test results show she is Polish."

However, the investigator defended the attention that Wendell had received in making her claims.

She said: "At least Julia got the investigators to move on the McCann case – she made things happen."

Wendell had claimed that she not only looked like the missing girl from Leicestershire, but that her family had made comments which made her question her past.

After making headlines around the world, the polish woman's parents issued a statement in which they spoke of the pain caused by her "lies and manipulations".

They said in a statement: "For us as a family it is obvious that Julia is our daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and step niece. We have memories, we have pictures.

"Julia also has these photos, because she took them from the family home with the birth certificate, as well as numerous hospital discharges.

"We always tried to understand all situations that happened with Julia. Threats to our address from Julia, her lies and manipulations, activity on the internet... we've seen it all and we've tried to prevent it, explain it, we've asked her to stop."

They added: "We always tried to help her get back on her feet. Julia has been of age for several years. She moved out of the house.

"She refuses treatment, does not take medication regularly. She also did not take advantage of the possibility of treatment at a very good centre in Poland, which agreed to accept her."