BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis has been left 'scared and let down' after her obsessive stalker was able to contact her from inside prison.

Judge Peter Ross said it was 'something of a scandal' that Edward Vines, 47, could send letters - intercepted by BBC security - from inside Bullingdon Prison and then be released only to send another letter while under the supervision of probation services.

He said given several references to Jill Dando in the letter the BBC Newsnight presenter and her security were 'understandably concerned for her safety.'

Today he sentenced Vines, of Clarks Row, to three years and nine months in prison for the 'psychological torture' he had inflicted and demanded answers from the prison governor and probation service.

In a victim statement heard by the court Miss Maitlis, who went to Cambridge University with Vines in the 1990s, said: "When I heard 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."

She added: "It has affected my relationship with my husband who is frustrated we cannot get to the bottom of the problem even though we have been tackling it through the courts and CPS for over twenty years and it has scared my children who thought the threat had gone way - albeit temporarily while he was behind bars."

She added that it has affected her work and made her 'jumpy' around strangers for no reason.

The court heard that Vines' second letter ended with 'I will not relent until you talk to me'.

Vines was first issued with a restraining order against the TV presented in 2002 after he was convicted of harassing her.

In September 2016, after multiple breaches of the order, he was jailed for three years.

During the two-day trial jurors heard Vines began pestering the journalist after declaring his ‘unrequited’ love for her while studying together at Cambridge.

But just weeks into his prison sentence he was able to send a letter to BBC Broadcasting House.

Prosecutor Julian Lynch said the 'unsatisfactory' response from Bullingdon was that they couldn't stop Vines handing a letter to someone to post on his behalf.

Judge Ross called for a letter from the prison governor explaining the failings to be on his desk by next Friday.

Vines, representing himself after dismissing his legal team, said he hadn't been aware of the distress his actions had caused Ms Maitlis until the past few months and claimed to be upset by her victim statement.

He said he thought Miss Maitlis' lack of response for more than 20 years may have been her being 'stubborn' or 'selfish over what happened at Cambridge University.

He said: "When I've seen her on TV - I don't watch her very often - she doesn't look like her normal self, she didn't look full of the joys of spring.

"As I know her, or knew her, I can judge that."

He added: "There are two of us unhappy in this situation and I don't know what to do about my unhappiness."

The court heard a draft letter he had written while out on licence in which he apologised for 'harming and upsetting' her.

He said he thought Miss Maitlis' lack of response for more than 20 years may have been her being 'stubborn' or 'selfish over what happened at Cambridge University.

But Judge Ross said: "It's clear to me she wants nothing to do with you - nothing whatsoever - but it seems that the last twenty years have still not convinced you of that.

"It has impacted on every aspect of her life and how she deals with others and her ability to live a normal life without suspicion or fear.

"It's disgraceful conduct, it's psychological torture."

Edward Vines, of Clarks Row, Oxford, admitted two counts of breaching a restraining order at Oxford Crown Court in November.

The 47-year old had sent one letter to the presenter between November 28 2016 and December 15 2016 and another between September 16 2017 and September 22 2017.

Last month, when he was due to be sentenced, he attempted to change his plea to not guilty.

But this was rejected by Recorder David Mayall.

Judge Ross said his change of plea was to bring Miss Maitlis to the witness box in a trial to 'finally confront her'.