Emily Maitlis stalker sacks his lawyer in court

Edward Vines (pictured) has been stalking BBC presenter Emily Maitlis for 27 years

A former university friend of Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis who stalked her for years will now be sentenced next month after he sacked his defence lawyer in court.

Edward Vines, 47, re-started his 27-year campaign of harassment despite a restraining order banning him from contacting the journalist or her relatives.

He had previously sent mother-of-two Ms Maitlis letters from his prison cell after he was jailed for three years last year over the stalking.

Ms Mailtis, 47, did not receive the letters, which were sent to the BBC and intercepted by security guards.

When he was released, he ramped up his campaign and bombarded her with more creepy messages, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Vines, of Oxford, tried to change his plea at his sentencing hearing, which was rejected by a judge.

He then dismissed his defence counsel so his sentencing was adjourned until January 16 at the same court, where he will represent himself.

Recorder David Mayall said: ‘I asked Mr Vines why he wanted to change his plea – in summary, he told me that he had changes his mind over the period between pleading guilty and now.

‘When I asked him what the basis for change of plea was he said that it was although he accepted he acted in breach of restraining order that was in place, he had a reasonable excuse for doing so.

‘That reasonable excuse is as follows – he was wrongly convicted in 2009 when the restraining order was made – he is no longer able to change that.

Vines had previously sent mother-of-two Ms Maitlis (pictured) letters from his prison cell after he was jailed for three years last year over the stalking

Vines had previously sent mother-of-two Ms Maitlis (pictured) letters from his prison cell after he was jailed for three years last year over the stalking

‘He has been advised there is no avenue of appeal now open to him.

‘The proposition that one can change one’s mind and put forward a change of plea on the basis it is reasonable for you to ignore the court order, because the court order should never have been made in the first place, is one which would have no possible prospect of success.

‘I exercise my discretion to refuse the defendant’s application made today to change his plea.’

Vines told the court he decided he wanted to change his plea because he had been in ‘two minds’ about the case.

He said: ‘Guilty pleas were entered in the past against my advice or wishes. It has been a very difficult decision to make.

‘Months ago, I reached the decision I would give up and throw in the towel – the odds are stacked against me.

‘Obviously, to be found not guilty in this case would be quite a tall order.

‘I am not guilty from the very beginning – when I entered a plea of guilty, it was not like I put my hands up and confessed, it’s not that type of plea.

Vines dismissed his defence counsel so his sentencing was adjourned until January 16 at Oxford Crown Court (pictured), where he will represent himself

Vines dismissed his defence counsel so his sentencing was adjourned until January 16 at Oxford Crown Court (pictured), where he will represent himself

‘I just changed my mind as a result of considering, over the days in between now and a month ago.

‘My case has never properly been argued. Last year my barrister didn’t make a very good defence of me.’

When asked by the judge whether he accepts he made contact with Ms Maitlis in breach of the restraining order, but thought he had a reasonable excuse, he nodded.

He added: ‘Some parts (of my defence) may be dismissed by yourself – the first is (in 2002) I believe I was forced to enter please of guilty, that’s how the original conviction came about.

‘I cannot apply against conviction, what would a reasonable person do in that set of circumstances when he was still very keen to speak to the lady in question?

‘It is reasonable I should be allowed to contact her.

‘The restraining order is actually based on a fictional account put forward by her in 2002.

‘I will no longer make use of solicitors, from now on it’s me.’

Vines first met Ms Maitlis, 47, in their first year at Queen’s College, Cambridge, in 1989.

In a previous court hearing, Edwards told how their friendship cooled in 1990 after Ms Maitlis ‘scorned’ him.

Vines, who also tried to contact the presenter’s mother, received his first restraining order in 2002.

Last year a judge said he had a ‘completely unshakable’ obsession with the presenter.

The stalking got so bad Ms Maitlis revealed her two children had security to get on a bus to school and she required an escort to go shopping at a supermarket.

Prosecutor Julian Lynch said: ‘I have some experience with Mr Vines, I prosecuted his last conviction for similar matters last year.

‘Mr Vines was represented throughout this trial in 2016 save for his sentencing – he sacked his counsel at the conclusion of the trial and he was convicted.

‘A custodial sentence is probably close to inevitable – he has served a custodial sentence before.’

Michael Goold, defending, said: ‘He indicated he intended to appeal to vacate his guilty pleas, to change his pleas to not guilty.

‘That is one intention he had indicated earlier and has continued with that desire today.

‘That puts me and those instructing me in a position where we are unable to continue to represent Mr Vines.

‘I and those instructing me are embarrassed and it is a wish I do not say anything further on his behalf.’



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