Belfield, who now runs a YouTube channel called The Voice of Reason, told jurors he had legitimate reasons for his online communications. The full wording of the charges stated that he "pursued a course of conduct that amounted to harassment" of the complainants, which "amounted to stalking" and caused them "serious alarm or distress". "Stalking is a crime. 0 For the best part of 10 years they had been complaining about Belfields vendetta, in which he sent hundreds, if not thousands, of emails to them and their superiors. List of Port Vale F.C. players - Wikipedia The verdicts in relation to each complainant were: Giving evidence to the trial, Mr Vine described Belfield's behaviour as "like an avalanche of hatred you get hit by", and "absolutely Olympic-level stalking, even for broadcasting". Bernie Keith confirms he's mentally ill and in therapy March 2020. 562 0 obj <> endobj >? = 'You can't work out how it's happened. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Alex Belfield is currently in prison after being convicted of stalking four men, Belfield made videos throughout his trial and posted them on YouTube. After 6 months the BBC REFUSE to defend Bernie Keith and deny he sent it after 100+ emails. "He had no escape from you," the judge told Belfield. Living on the edge (literally! Call Today! Instead of a lawyer, he was often accompanied by James Brandon, a member of the old-school comedy duo the Grumbleweeds. Furthermore, Alex was handed two-and-a-half years for the charge concerning BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith and a consecutive two-and-a-half year sentence over the stalking charge . Count 8: Jeremy Vine, not guilty to stalking to cause alarm and distress but guilty to simply stalking - Belfield is sentenced to 13 weeks consecutively for stalking Mr Vine. Both question why the corporation only really took the abuse seriously once a well-known man Vine was involved. Follow us on Facebook here and Twitter here. Stayed tuned - Alex Murdaugh's sordid tale is just getting started, Alex Murdaugh's head is shaved as he is booked into South Carolina prison fortress for weeks of evaluation before being sent to a maximum security facility housing the 'worst of the worst', At least 10 dead as wild storms lash the U.S: Tornadoes and golf ball-sized hail topples trucks and leaves one million without power in Kentucky, Alabama and Arkansas - after dumping 17 feet of snow in California, Massive gas tanker crashes in Maryland and EXPLODES into fireball killing the driver and setting local residents' homes ablaze as large plumes of black smoke and embers billow from crash site, 'I want to be a French child!' Jurors convicted Belfield, of Mapperley, Nottingham, of four charges committed between 2012 and 2021 and for each of these charges, he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, to run consecutively. He loved and hated showbusiness, and if he couldnt be you, hed have you, and be part of you, another way. Full statement on legal action & police inquiry BBC Bernie Keith / Bernard Spedding & Ben Hewis. Mr Vine gave evidence against Belfield, of Mapperley, Nottingham, telling jurors: This is not a regular troll here. A "cruel" former BBC local radio presenter has been jailed for five years and 26 weeks for stalking broadcasters including Jeremy Vine. "Throughout this trial, victims and other witnesses have given evidence with dignity and I would like to thank them for their willingness to give evidence. Alex Belfields online harassment made life misery for BBC presenters Jeremy Vine, Liz Green and many others. Breen says she and others flagged Belfields behaviour repeatedly but were told just not to look at the emails, or to delete them. Friday Night is our 2nd Handbag Heaven Club Night. He said there was no escape for Belfields victims until bail conditions were imposed ahead of his trial, and agreed with Mr Vines characterisation that the ex-DJ had weaponised the internet against his targets. Read about our approach to external linking. He took photos of Hewiss wife and young child from social media and included them in his videos, even using a picture of a foetal scan showing Hewiss unborn baby as part of his relentless email campaign of harassment. Belfield, 42, subjected four people in a "relentless" campaign of stalking - including broadcaster Jeremy Vine. But some of the complainants feel they never really got justice. Some believe he relied on others as media monitors and had sources within the BBC itself: he seemed to know everything discussed on each of their radio shows every day, along with a number of internal matters. Former BBC radio personality Alex Belfield, 42, is also a vlogger from Nottinghamshire. He said a pre-sentence report showed that while Belfield fully acknowledges the distress to victims, it also highlights you still appear to focus on the impact on you and feel in certain respects youve been unfairly treated. Bernie Keith (pictured) who presents mid-morning shows and a weekly rock 'n' roll programme on BBC Radio Northampton, said former BBC Radio Leeds DJ Alex Belfield had subjected him to 'naked' hatred and false claims, Prosecutors allege that Belfield (pictured arriving at Nottingham Crown Court), who hosts a radio channel on YouTube, waged a relentless nine-year campaign of stalking against eight victims, including ex-colleagues, after BBC Radio Leeds did not renew his contract in 2011. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. One of the alleged victims - TV and radio presenter Jeremy Vine (pictured arriving at Nottingham Crown Court) - told the trial last week that 42-year-old Belfield is 'the Jimmy Savile of trolling'. How a failed local radio DJ with Timmy Malletts dress sense ended up making potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds broadcasting lies about his largely obscure enemies is a story that begins in 2010. BBC Radio Leeds presenter Liz Green, who was harassed for 10 years by Belfield. Within days, 15,000 people had signed a Free Alex Belfield petition and Hopkins was on Instagram mocking Belfields targets for whining about simple hurty words. Radio Presenter Age And Net Worth. Asked why it had not banned Belfield from its platform following his conviction, YouTube did not respond. Jeremy Vine cries in court as he calls BBC presenter Alex Belfield the When sentencing Belfield, Mr Justice Saini told him: 'Your offences are so serious, only a custodial sentence can be justified.'. Alex Belfield Trial: Former BBC Radio Leeds DJ jailed for 'weaponising Each of them suffered serious mental health problems arising from Mr Belfield's conduct.". His trial heard he made YouTube videos about them, posted messages on social media, sent emails, and also encouraged those that follow him to target them. During the trial, Mr Keith told the court he was left feeling suicidal by a tsunami of hate from Alex Belfield. On Count 5 you were convicted of stalking Mr Bernard Spedding - known professionally as Bernie Keith. ): They boast glorious ocean views, but swathes of homes along America's coastlines are at risk of tumbling off CLIFFS due to erosion, rising sea levels and extreme weather events, Are YOU guilty of these gym sins? He has also been convicted of stalking Bernie Keith and videographer Ben Hewis. A cruel former BBC local radio presenter who stalked broadcasters including TV's Jeremy Vine and BBC Northampton's Bernie Keith has been jailed for more than five years. The 42-year-old was also found guilty of stalking BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith and videographer Ben Hewis. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Ms Breen had been his boss at BBC Radio Leeds, Ms Green had been a fellow radio presenter, Ms Thomas had been Ms Breen's boss, and Ms Hirst joined BBC Radio Leeds as a presenter after Belfield left. READ MORE: The cinemas in Northamptonshire showing the Queen's funeral on Monday for free, Jurors accepted Belfield caused serious alarm or distress to two victims and found him guilty of simple stalking in relation to Channel 5 and BBC Radio 2 presenter Mr Vine and theatre blogger Philip Dehany. %PDF-1.7 % Ex BBC DJ Alex Belfield jailed for five years for stalking Jeremy Vine Alex Belfield was labelled 'the Jimmy Savile of trolling' during the trial, Subscribe today to get the latest Northants headlines straight to your inbox with our free email updates. Belfield soon became obsessed with ruining Hewiss professional and personal life. All is explained in the video. What will the next pandemic be? Belfield was given a total of five years and 26 weeks in prison, of which he will serve half, on all four charges he was convicted of. He soon made enemies in the theatre world, says a director who started monitoring his online activities a few years ago (and who wishes to remain anonymous). y the time Belfield began tormenting Dehany in 2020 he had become a successful YouTuber who could have been earning up to 528,000 a year, according to Social Blade, a website that monitors social media channels. www.jobunion.org Ben Hewis refuses to engage with the police and hand over the email. BBC Bernie Keith & Ben Hewis STATEMENT - Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield hen Alex Belfield was sent to prison for five and a half years last month for online stalking, his accusers cried with relief. This apology does not make it OK. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Belfield clearly resented being there, recalls Hazell He was sulking and had a face like thunder. How many people signed up for 1 a week is unclear, though some live streams attracted barely 300 viewers. That all stopped in February this year when YouTube suspended monetisation on Belfields Voice of Reason for violating its creator policy, after. 'My initial reaction (to the alleged stalking) was ''He's gone mad'',' Mr Keith said. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. Would they ever truly be able to escape the man Vine described as an Olympic-level stalker? Former BBC DJ Belfield was jailed in September after he was found guilty of waging a relentless stalking campaign against BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith, and subjecting TV presenter Jeremy . I hope you take some time to consider Bernie Keith's statement. After stopping the counselling after three sessions Mr Keith said he also spoke to a specialist who helped stalking victims. VideoRussian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Why would he/they not deny it if he didnt send it? The judge referred to the victims graphic and distressing evidence in court about the impact of Belfields campaign of harassment, and how he had been just seconds away from dying by suicide. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. Hazell is one of numerous others who now say Belfield trolled them. The optics arent good, says Breen. %%EOF Bernie Keith confirms hes mentally ill and in therapy March 2020. How much money Belfield made in recent years is unclear. hb```6Ad`0p Mr Vine also gave evidence against Belfield during the trial, as he said: "This . During his trial, the court heard from his stalking victims - including BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith. Keith tried in vain to get YouTube to remove all of the libellous videos, even turning up at the social networks HQ to beg it in person. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. A security company had also been brought in to collect him from the radio station's car park, Mr Keith said. 6 months later Ben Hewis REFUSES to release the email. He ended with one of his catchphrases I love you, and theres nothing you can do about it before making what to his victims was a sinister promise: We will be back.. You made communications which had serious impacts on the private lives of the complainants, with distressing effects on their mental and physical health. "He was seconds away from taking his own life as a result of your conduct," the judge, Mr Justice Saini, told Belfield. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. while Mr Keith said the . While most defendants on trial try to avoid cameras on the way into court, Belfield seemed to be doing his best to attract them, wearing an array of wacky jackets and shirts. No more waking up in the middle of the night filled with dread about what he might have said about them to his then 373,000 YouTube subscribers or in bitter emails to their bosses or clients. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a 'tsunami of hate', the trial heard. Ex-DJ who left BBC Northampton's Bernie Keith 'seconds away' from 'I love you, and there's nothing you can do about it': will jail alex belfield wife name News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Axed DJ who stalked Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith and Jeremy Vine Ex-BBC DJ Alex Belfield found guilty of stalking Jeremy Vine and other It was on that channel that he first broadcast highly partisan court reports from his own trial, later posted to YouTube and still available to view, after persuading the judge that he was a journalist and should be given the same rights as the Nottingham Post. Giving evidence in court, Vine said: I have in the past had a physical stalker who followed me. For each of these charges he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, to run consecutively. Asked by prosecutor John McGuinness QC to explain the personal, professional and health impact of the alleged stalking, Mr Keith responded: 'I had physical threats and, I believe, death threats. Former BBC DJ Alex Belfield has been discovered responsible of the relentless stalking of different broadcasters, together with Jeremy Vine, who he Trending 'La Brea' Season 2 Trailer Goes EVEN DEEPER. Unprovoked, anonymous, malicious email published by Ben Hewis Oct 1 2019. Who Is Alex Belfield? Facts You Need To Know About The Radio Presenter Read about our approach to external linking. YouTuber Alex Belfield handed five-and-a-half-year prison sentence The Guardian asked Bridgen if he regretted supporting Belfield and did not receive a response. An ex-BBC boss has told a court how she felt as though she had a "noose around my neck" after being stalked by a former Radio Leeds DJ. Finally, respite from what for some had been a decade of near-constant abuse. 'My reputation is now in shreds because all of this has been seen throughout my industry and the wider population. For just over three minutes, the 42-year-old delivered a monologue in which he said he was in prison for simply defending himself. Soon she terminated it altogether, after he tweeted something that suggested albeit in veiled terms that Green should be sent to Auschwitz, after his rival presenter fronted a highly praised documentary about the concentration camp. In October 2020, Belfield spread a false rumour that he was having an affair with a fellow BBC radio presenter, using it as part of his ongoing campaign against the national broadcaster. Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. Who is Alex Belfield and why has he been jailed? \Mb+r'rS~(aU\voP GCK16X0v04p62h,3 0b``f:(x3j=)\-u`IL!