Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway is being stormed with letters from incarcerated ex-beau, Italian real estate developer Raffaello Follieri.

Follieri, who is serving four-and-a-half years' jail term for trying to con 35 million pounds from the Vatican, is pleading her to wait for him.

Hathaway broke up with Follieri after he was jailed and is currently dating actor Adam Shulman, 28. A friend revealed her new love wants her to write to Follieri telling him to leave her alone, reports express.co.uk.

'But Anne fears anything she says to him will lead to a fresh avalanche of mail. The letters are not only torturing Anne, they are putting pressure on her new relationship,' said the friend.

An FBI spokesman said: 'It's deeply unfortunate if the letters cause distress but unless they contain clear criminal intent our hands are tied.'