BBC star Emily Maitlis’s stalker was convicted of three counts of breaching a restraining order and one count of attempting to breach a restraining order following a trial in May
A serial stalker who became fixated on former BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis has been sentenced to five years behind bars after breaching a restraining order by sending letters to the broadcaster and her parents from prison.
Edward Vines, 55, was said to be “distraught” when his friendship with Ms Maitlis ended after he confessed his love to her while they were at university in Cambridge together. However, his subsequent actions have left Ms Maitlis feeling “vulnerable and worried”.
Vines, who refused to attend his sentencing hearing, sent multiple letters to Ms Maitlis and her relatives from HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire, where he was serving time for previous harassment offences. The letters were intercepted by prison staff.
Representing himself in court, Vines denied breaching a restraining order and attempting to breach a restraining order between May 2023 and February 2024. However, he was found guilty of all offences by a jury in May.
Over a 10-month period, Vines sent more than 20 letters to Ms Maitlis and her family, and even asked his brother to contact her mother, Marion Maitlis, in July 2023.
The court heard that Vines has a history of harassment, with 13 previous convictions for 28 offences dating back to 2002, almost all of which relate to Ms Maitlis. In a brief victim personal statement read out in court by prosecutor Fergus Malone, Ms Maitlis stated: “For over 30 years I have been living with the consequences of the persistent and unwanted attention of this individual.
“I feel especially vulnerable and worried when the matter comes to trial. The idea that he might be bailed is deeply worrying and I would be very concerned for my safety and the safety of my family.”
Ms Maitlis also recounted her husband discovering Vines on their doorstep, her children needing to be escorted to the school bus, and “upsetting interactions” with her 92-year-old mother.
Excerpts from an interview she gave to Radio 5 Live in 2018 were also read in court, where she described feeling “paranoia” and likened the harassment to a “chronic illness”.
Sentencing Vines in his absence, Judge Mark Watson remarked: “It is a tragedy that I once again have to deal with Edward Vines for breaking the restraining order imposed to stop him having contact with Emily Maitlis and her family.
“He has shown complete contempt for this order. His contact with her is harassment of her whatever the content of his letters may be.
“In this case she (Ms Maitlis) has been fearful for three decades. In 2018 she described the effects of the fear she felt as a result of Edward Vines’s behaviour. It was described by her as like a chronic illness.
“Because of the history of this case, I regard each single letter as a very serious breach. These were also letters that did not get through. They were not threatening or meant as abusive.
“I do accept that because of his mental health issues there is some reduction to his culpability. He was, however, capable of making rational decisions.
“He is a very bright and articulate man – he could have been many things. His obsession with Emily Maitlis has tortured him without release.
“He has wasted more than two decades of his life and regrettably he is set to waste more of it in custody.”
The judge further stated that Vines’s imprisonment is the “only thing stopping him from contacting the Maitlis family directly”.
During the trial, Mr Malone informed the jury that Vines had written a letter addressed to Ms Maitlis, co-host of The News Agents podcast, stating: “I took the audacity of writing to you despite the restraining order because I’m still distraught about what took place between us in 1990.
“I regularly suffer depression over it and have for 30 years. I admit I’m not sure why I suffer so, but suffer I do.”
The restraining order was implemented on September 5 2022 when Vines was convicted of eight counts of breaching a restraining order and subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
