‘Yes to Donna’: Jeffrey Epstein became fixated with TV star Donna Air after his release from prison, emails show

Emails show pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein became obsessed with Byker Grove star Donna Air after being released from prison.

A series of documents released by the US Department of Justice reveal that the two exchanged several emails after he was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution of a minor.

Miss Air, who rose to fame after appearing in Byker Grove, where she played Charlie Charlton for three years, was in a long-term relationship with James Middleton, Princess Catherine’s younger brother.

And between 2011 and 2012, before it was introduced to her by Princess Eugenie, the term ‘Donna Air’ appeared 224 times among the three million pages in the Epstein Files.

The interaction between Epstein and Ms. Air began after Italian hedge fund manager Tancredi Marchiolo contacted the sex offender and told him he was venturing to New York with his “good friend” Donna, The Sun reported.

The wealth manager asked his pedophile friend: ‘Let me know if you want to meet him?’

Three other women were mentioned in Marchiolo’s correspondence, but their names were redacted by US officials.

In response, the disgraced financier asked Marchiolo which one was the player and he replied: ‘Donna is on the internet. It is more corporate than these three. ‘Get to know him very well.’ The convicted pedophile then replied: ‘Yes to Donna’.

A set of documents released by the US Department of Justice reveals that the actress exchanged several emails with Epstein after he was convicted of child sex crimes in 2008

Marchiolo then told Epstein that he had given his number to Ms. Air and that he would call her on Tuesday or Wednesday. ‘Feel free to call her earlier if you want, she’s waiting for you,’ he wrote.

The talks between Ms. Air and Epstein began a year after Epstein served 13 months in prison and a year under house arrest in Florida for child sex crimes.

Donna and Epstein, who share a daughter with millionaire conservationist Damian Aspinall, appeared to have planned to meet in New York and Paris via various emails. Sun reported.

While making a diary entry for July 21, 2011, the disgraced financier was asking his assistant to remind him to contact the actor. However, there is no claim that the two met that day.

However, correspondence between the two shows that they met twice on April 18, 2012; The financier sent the actor a message in the early hours that read: ‘Sorry, time was too short.’

The Byker Grove actor seems to have replied: ‘Don’t worry. Nice to meet you, hope you have a great week!’

Later that day, Epstein said he had been ‘unexpectedly’ freed that evening, and the actor suggested he could come over ‘for a cup of coffee’ on his way to a dinner he had been invited to.

The pedophile told her once again that their date was ‘very, very short’ and the actress responded: ‘Short but sweet, take care and good luck with everything.’

Sources claimed that Ms Air (pictured in 2024) never agreed to meet the pedophile financier and that he would come to her places and contact her after the incident.

That same month, it was revealed that the two had been corresponding via Skype, and Epstein also invited her to a party at the ‘US ambassador’s house’ in Paris. It is unknown whether the actor attended or not.

Responding to a message from the sex offender on June 30, Donna wrote: ‘Just thinking about you this morning!’

The last text message between the pair appears to have been on August 18, 2012, when the Byker Grove star told Epstein she was flying to Ibiza.

There is no allegation that Ms Air was involved in any crime related to Epstein.

Miss Air met James Middleton at a private members’ club in Mayfair, London, the following February, and the pair were in an on-and-off relationship until 2018, when he attended her sister Pippa’s wedding.

And this wasn’t the first time the actress rubbed shoulders with high society dignitaries; has previously worked with Ant and Dec in Byker Grove and was also part of the 90s Primrose Hill Set, which also featured the likes of Noel and Liam Gallagher, as well as Kate Moss.

Following her relationship with Mr Middleton, Ms Air was reportedly romantically involved with property developer Ben Carrington before appearing in BBC drama The Split as well as ITV’s Dancing on Ice.

She was also in a relationship with businessman Damian Aspinall between 2000 and 2007.

Donna has previously said of her relationship with Mr Middleton: ‘He’s a great guy. I wish him nothing but happiness.’

Mr. Middleton married French financial analyst Alizee Thevenet in 2021.

Sources claimed that Ms Air never agreed to meet the pedophile financier and that he would come to her places and contact her after the incident.

The Daily Mail has approached Donna Air’s representatives for comment.