Sarah Ferguson visited convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein twice at a Palm Beach office that victims say was used for abuse while he was on work release from a 12-month jail term for child sex offences, newly revealed emails show.
Emails reveal visits during Epstein's work release
Epstein was serving time for soliciting a child for prostitution when he was visited by the Duchess of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's ex-wife. The meetings occurred at an office of a fake company in Palm Beach, Florida, where Epstein's victims claim he carried out some of the abuse while supposedly incarcerated.
After being jailed in 2008, Epstein was granted a work release programme allowing him to leave his cell for up to 12 hours daily. In April 2009, nine months into his sentence, Ferguson emailed to ask if she could stop by for a 'quick cup of tea' during a Florida layover. She signed off: 'Love Sarah The red Head.!!'
Ferguson's correspondence with Epstein
Two days later, Epstein told Ferguson she looked 'great' and that he had read 'everything you gave me', adding she should be running his company. Days later, she messaged him: 'My dear spectacular and special friend Jeffrey. You are a legend, and I am so proud of you. Thank you for looking after me so well.'
She reportedly called him a fortnight later on May 5, 2009, before visiting a second time on May 13. Plans for a third meeting during a trip from Grenada to Canada fell through; Epstein was due to meet his sex addiction therapist at the office that day.
Spokesperson's response
A spokesman for Ferguson previously told the BBC: 'The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims. Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia.'
