BBC journalist Emily Maitlis speaks of harassment ordeal as stalker is jailed again

Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis has spoken of her ordeal after her former university friend was jailed for a second time over a 20-year campaign of harassment.

Edward Vines, 47, was jailed for 45 months at Oxford Crown Court after admitting two breaches of an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting Maitlis.

Vines was able to write letters to Maitlis while serving a prison sentence for breaching a restraining order.

He then wrote to her again from a bail hostel after he was released from prison, the court heard.

Judge Peter Ross described this as "wholly unsatisfactory" and gave the probation service and the governor at HMP Bullingdon 10 days for a written explanation.

Maitlis, who was not in court, said she was let down by the criminal justice system and had been unable to live a "normal family life" .

In a victim impact statement, she added that the harassment had "scared my children who thought the threat had gone away" and reminded her that Vines "remains a constant threat in my life".

Defending himself, Vines, of Clarks Row, Oxford, said Ms Maitlis' views were "all new to me".

"I think the whole issue can be resolved if she would talk to me," he said. "That has not happened since 1995 and she has not spoken to me since then.

"I think I have been through enough and a lengthy prison sentence is not going to help. I do not think I am going to write to her again."

Here is Emily Maitlis' victim impact statement in full:

"When I heard that Edward Vines had breached his restraining order, I felt scared and let down.

"Scared because it meant that even from within the prison system the perpetrator was able to reach me - let down because the system had been unable to stop him getting in touch, even though the crime he is serving time for is harassment through unwanted and ongoing contact.

"It has affected my relationship with my husband, who is frustrated that we cannot get to the bottom of this problem even though we have been tackling it through the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts for over 20 years. And it has scared my children who thought the threat had gone away - albeit temporarily whilst he was behind bars.

"It has affected my ability to do my work - I am constantly thinking of where I am being sent and whether he will be attempting to track me down.

"And it affects every day decisions like how I leave the house and how I get to work, what time I feel able to come home at night, I work late nights often.

"It also makes me jumpy around strangers for no reason as I fear any advance might be him.

"Altogether the breach has been a reminder for me that this man remains a constant threat in my life and my family's life - and that my ability to do my work, hang out with my children and lead a normal family life without constant sense of suspicion and fear has been badly damaged."