Emily Maitlis stalker 'will continue to brood and write letters'

Emily Maitlis has been harassed by Edward Vines since the 1990s, a court heard

A stalker who has had a "persistent and obsessive fixation" with Emily Maitlis for more than 25 years has written more letters to her from jail, a court has heard.

Jurors were told Edward Vines expressed his "unrequited love" for the BBC Newsnight presenter in recent letters.

Nottingham Crown Court heard he would "continue to brood and to write letters in prison", unless she spoke to him about "her behaviour in 1990".

The 51-year-old denies six charges.

Vines met Ms Maitlis while they were studying at Cambridge University

Vines is accused of six counts of attempting to breach a restraining order between May 2020 and September 2021 by writing from HMP Nottingham.

The court heard Vines attempted to breach his restraining order - to not contact Ms Maitlis, her husband, children or parents - by writing to Ms Maitlis and her mother.

However, all six letters were intercepted by prison staff.

Jurors were also told Vines had "systematically and with increasing frequency" breached two separate restraining orders imposed on him in 2002 and 2009.

Prosecutor Ian Way said the case had a "long and unhappy history".

He said: "His compulsive behaviour towards her resulted in a conviction against him before the West London Magistrates' Court on the 19th September 2002 for pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to harassment."

He said Vines pleaded guilty and was made the subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from having any contact with Ms Maitlis.

After he sent Ms Maitlis two e-mails in 2008, a new restraining order was put in place to include Ms Maitlis, her husband, children and parents in 2009.

He now has a total of 12 breaches to his name and seven separate prosecutions, excluding the current alleged offences, the court heard.

The court heard Vines has a total of 12 breaches to his name, excluding the current alleged offences

Talking about the content of a six-page hand-written letter penned by Vines in December last year, Mr Way said he wrote about how he felt Ms Maitlis owed him a response as to what had happened between them at university in 1990.

Mr Way added: "He expressed his unrequited love for her and criticised her for not responding to his constant questioning.

"He accused her of lying about him in a statement which had resulted in everyone taking her side to his detriment, stating that he had been badly represented in the past and could not appeal as a result."

Addressing the jury, he said: "It is not reasonable to constantly attempt to communicate with someone who does not want to hear from you."

Mr Way added: "The prosecution case is incredibly straightforward.

"It is not about whether she is being harassed. It is whether he has an excuse to breach the order and the crown say he does not."

The trial continues.