Prisoner accused of breaching Emily Maitlis restraining order

A prisoner breached a restraining order by writing to television presenter Emily Maitlis from a jail, a court has heard.

Edward Vines is on trial at Nottingham Crown Court, accused of breaching an order barring him from contacting the former BBC presenter, imposed by the same court, in 2022.

Prosecutors said letters sent by Mr Vines, 54, included claims Ms Maitlis had been “scornful” to him during their friendship at university.

Jurors were told that in a letter written to Ms Maitlis, who co-hosts The News Agents podcast, the defendant claimed he “regularly” suffers depression because their friendship ended, and has done for 30 years.

The court heard Mr Vines is charged with three counts of breaching a restraining order and one count of attempting to breach a restraining order.

The jury heard that the defendant sent envelopes addressed to the broadcaster and her parents, which were intercepted by prison staff at HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire, where he was serving a sentence.

Prosecutor Fergus Malone read letters to the court, posted by Mr Vines through the prison mailing system, which included Mr Vines saying he was “distraught” about the friendship ending, three months after he told Ms Maitlis he loved her, during their time at university in Cambridge.

The jury was told, in a letter dated in July 2023, addressed to Ms Maitlis, Mr Vines wrote: “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.”

In a letter addressed to her mother, Mr Vines had described Ms Maitlis as “offish and scornful”, the court heard.

Opening the prosecution’s case on Wednesday, Mr Malone told the jury: “The restraining order prohibited him [Mr Vines] from contacting Emily Maitlis, Marion Maitlis and Peter Maitlis. Emily Maitlis, you may have heard of, is a well-known broadcaster.

“The Crown’s case is that the defendant wrote, addressed and posted letters whilst in prison to all three of those people between May 2023 and February 2024.

“Mr Vines was a serving prisoner at the time.

“In this case, all the addressed and posted letters were intercepted by prison staff at Her Majesty’s Prison Lowdham Grange.

“The likely issue in this case is whether the defendant, Mr Vines, had a reasonable excuse in law to breach the restraining order and that is a matter for him to present to you in due course.”

The prosecution also alleges that Mr Vines telephoned his brother in July 2023 and asked him to contact Marion Maitlis.

The trial continues.