Jes Staley stayed in contact with Jeffrey Epstein behind the back of Barclays Plc’s head of communications while the bank dealt with questions about its incoming boss’ links to the late sex offender a decade ago.

Former Barclays boss Jes Staley did not mislead the UK’s financial watchdog over his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, Staley’s lawyers said on Monday at the start of a London court case in which the former banker seeks to restore his reputation.