Jilted fiancé ‘posed as ghost of his partner’s dead mother’

A JILTED fiancé pretended to be the ghost of his former partner’s dead mother in letters urging her to take him back, a court heard.

Roy Meadwell was trying to win back Kay Winbury’s affections, but was banned from contacting her due to a restraining order imposed by magistrates. The order also banned him from entering Cornwall.

He has now gone on trial at Exeter Crown Court accused of breaking the order on five occasions, including one in which he sent a letter which purported to come from her dead mother via a psychic in Tintagel, Cornwall.

The letter did not name Meadwell but spoke of “the man who sacrificed everything for you, the man who loves you, the man who wanted you to be his wife”, and urged her: “All you have to do is to call him.”

Another anonymous email, said to be from a well-wisher, said: “OMG, can’t you see the greatness in this man?”

Meadwell, aged 51, of Yeovil, denied five counts of breaking a restraining order. He said he had nothing to do with the messages, which he claimed must have been sent without his knowledge by a well-wisher who was trying to play Cupid.

Brian Fitzherbert, prosecuting, said a magistrate’s court in Cornwall made the restraining order banning any contact in December 2016, and strengthened it a month later by prohibiting Meadwell from entering Cornwall.

Ms Winbury, who lives near Newlyn, called the police after receiving the first letter on July 11. It was anonymous but was accompanied by a leaflet from the Willow Moon tarot shop in Tintagel, and its contents made it clear it was supposed to be a message from beyond the grave from her mother.

She went on to receive another letter, apparently from a well-wisher, a Facebook message, and an email from an account which had a name almost identical to that of her stepmother’s.

Mr Fitzherbert said the letters and messages referred to incidents which only Ms Winbury and Meadwell knew about. He said: “The final paragraphs of the first letter purports to be a message from her dead mother. It was a message from beyond the grave imploring her to take Meadwell back.”

The tarot shop owner said Meadwell had visited the premises. The tarot shop was not aware of Meadwell’s restraining order. The trial continues.