Unable to work and claiming to be on 86-a-week universal credit when the theatres shut, Belfield reinvented himself as a rightwing shockjock. After being sacked from BBC Radio Leeds, Belfield had to move back to live with his mother in Nottinghamshire and found it difficult to get regular radio work. During his trial, the court heard from his stalking victims - including BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith. The judge did stop him from interrogating complainants, appointing David Aubrey as a proxy advocate. Sentencing Belfield, the judge said he had made this highly successful and confident radio presenter lose all joy in life and turned him into a shell He was terrified of you. So scared was Keith that he gave neighbours a copy of Belfields photograph, in case he decided to take his campaign of harassment offline. Our fears and anxiety were downplayed. Helen Thomas, now director of BBC England, told the jury that she was told to man up by a BBC boss when she complained about Belfields behaviour. Feb 8. Copyright Celebrity Radio. 0 Launching it on 1 March this year, Belfield said he wanted to broadcast away from the toxic spectrumed trolls, lefties, fart heads & Mogadon moronic medicated mentalists & journalists. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Do not sell or share my personal information. I dont think that stuff even bothered him.. Each of them suffered serious mental health problems arising from Mr Belfields conduct, he said, imposing indefinite restraining orders preventing Belfield from contacting the women. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Spedding, who is known as Bernie Keith, and videographer . Bernie Keith, 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 . For each of these offences he was sentenced to 13 weeks, also to run consecutively. Fans, largely older women, were often in the public gallery to show support. >? = The Belfield Green knew at Radio Leeds in 2010 was difficult but he wasnt a table-thumping, immigrant-hating rightwing polemicist, she says. Silence was the best policy in the eyes of the corporation. She has asked the BBC to commission an independent investigation into what happened. Published: 11:08 EST, 21 July 2022 | Updated: 11:22 EST, 21 July 2022. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a "tsunami of hate", the trial heard. Your email address will not be published. The judge, Mr Justice Saini, granted Belfield bail and told him to return to Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing next month. Alex Belfield and Katie Hopkins in a video on her YouTube channel, advertising the show they did together. He bought his detached house in Mapperley, Nottingham, for 314,950 in October 2018, and it is mortgaged. Thats a word I have never heard We four were left to suffer and are suffering still, she says. (takes 20 seconds to download full statement plus call to Hewis). 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. Also speaking during the trial, describing watching Belfields video output as like swimming in sewage, Mr Vine said: It felt like I had a fish hook in my face and my flesh was being torn, and the only way to avoid further pain was to stay completely still.. Green says she is deeply disappointed that the BBC did not commission an independent inquiry. Mr Vine gave evidence against Belfield, of Mapperley, Nottingham, telling jurors: This is not a regular troll here. . Belfield currently hosts the Voice of Reason YouTube channel, which has over 372,000 subscribers. 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. Two days have been set aside to hear the application at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on March 7. It was lockdown that offered Belfield an opportunity to make some proper money. "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. If you can help with mounting legal costs please email alex@alexbelfield.co.uk, Uploaded by Alex Belfield at Celebrity Radio 13th March 2020. 'The counselling didn't work for me - I had never had counselling before and I found it very difficult, very alien.'. and BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith. Dehany ended up the subject of numerous YouTube broadcasts where Belfield suggested he was mentally ill, and called him a mincer and a little twirly with an incredibly tiny man sausage. Unprovoked, anonymous, malicious email published by Ben Hewis Oct 1 2019. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Alex Belfield has been jailed for five and a half years. You made communications which had serious impacts on the private lives of the complainants, with distressing effects on their mental and physical health. Port Vale F.C. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. Alex Belfield, 42, who "weaponised the internet", was last month found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court of waging a relentless campaign, with TV's Mr Vine subjected to an "avalanche of hatred". "I had this naked hate being piled on me every day and I had to be funny and I had to entertain people," he said. Vine said it is very, very important that the BBC learn lessons from what happened to the women at BBC Leeds. Its like an avalanche of hatred that you get hit by., Vine didnt think he had ever even met Belfield, but another former BBC radio presenter, James Hazell, remembers Vine delivering a masterclass to local BBC presenters in 2010. This apology does not make it OK. BBC & RPC lawyers refuse to deny BBC DJ Bernard Spedding / Bernie Keith wrote email. The criteria for applying for an order are set out in section 1(1) of the Stalking Protection Act 2019. But Breen thought he would bring personality to the station. Jeremy Vine suffered 'Olympic level stalking' by presenter, court hears, Alex Belfield claimed radio station had 'refused' to mention Manchester terrorist attack, Stalker Alex Belfield has shelled out '300,000 already' on his legal case, YouTube still hosts convicted stalker Alex Belfield's videos, Ex-BBC DJ Alex Belfield accused of stalking tells jury he is the victim of a witch-hunt, Alex Belfield was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in behind bars. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. 2023 BBC. Your email address will not be published. Unless there are broadcast prohibitions attached to his release, there is nothing to stop Belfield firing up Voice of Reason again when he gets out of jail. If you are watching this, I have been sent to jail, intoned Belfield in his Steve Wright meets Alan Partridge boom, standing in front of a skewwhiff union jack in the living room of his Nottingham home, wearing one of his trademark jazzy shirts. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. Although jurors found Belfield not guilty of stalking Liz Green, Rozina Breen, Helen Thomas and Stephanie Hirst, Mr Justice Saini said Belfield had harassed them, and he made restraining orders to protect them in future. The BBC turned a blind eye to the abuse, says Green: We were not heard. The opening of the trial heard that Belfield had been a presenter at BBC Radio Leeds, having been given a one-year contract in spring 2010. His voice breaking with emotion, Mr Keith added: 'That removes the hope from my life that I will ever be free of this man. 'I can't remember when I have had a run of good sleep of longer than five hours. Belfield, 42, who weaponised the internet, was last month found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court of waging a relentless campaign, where Mr Vine said he was subjected to an avalanche of hatred. hWmo8+}(fI0He&[%@bwYsun!-Q$m>|(c #*fD((B+AH"9hn@*bJM (XDpn+X [EhA8b0BCJ ]JAD*# vb7kG;?+z]VlMow&k]dY\?2z?|Hzm|umLpM'lU),>9S*sD0xXl&[QdyLUvf% 5nLMY/]B~KJJeLPNAbK Clv/?`x8CG]* WAbZa\kC89ZCR7F-EdOzdoEey1*|z`L8}`! i_}Y/z*}Z4V0j_Zn(XP @C!|D@F;= 4`EwsivT! 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. %PDF-1.7 % 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!' Recommended Ex-BBC DJ guilty of stalking Jeremy Vine during 'vile' hate campaign As well as jailing Belfield, Mr Justice Saini issued indefinite restraining orders banning the DJ from contacting his victims. According to the Institute of Lawfare, lawfare is the misuse and abuse of the law for political, commercial and military ends. 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. Olivia Attwood praises best pal Georgia Harrison as 'brave and dignified' after Stephen Bear jailed for sharing sex tape, Peter Andre reveals strict rule for daughter Princess's career after she teams up with fashion brand, Where cast of Flipper are now - from hilarious run-in with the Queen to Breaking Bad fame & star with 14 kids by 4 mums, Stephen Bears fiance Jessica Smith vows to stick with him 'through thick and thin' after shamed reality star is jailed, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Alex Belfield arriving for his trial at Nottingham Crown Court (Image: PA) An award-winning broadcaster has told a court she was devastated by a "completely transphobic" video posted online by an ex-BBC Radio DJ accused of stalking former colleagues and TV star Jeremy Vine. The term again is two-and-half years; Count 7: Philip Dehany, not guilty to stalking to cause alarm and distress but guilty to simple stalking - Belfield received a consecutive sentence of 13 weeks. He loved and hated showbusiness, and if he couldnt be you, hed have you, and be part of you, another way. I AM A VICTIM OF A CRIME. BBC Radio Northampton DJ Bernie Keith told the court he was left feeling suicidal by a tsunami of hate. On Count 5 you were convicted of stalking Mr Bernard Spedding - known professionally as Bernie Keith. A BBC radio host has revealed that alleged stalking by an ex-staff member left him contemplating suicide. Our community guidelines prohibit content that threatens individuals and we have removed several videos for violating these policies.. He added there was no escape for Belfields victims, until bail conditions were imposed ahead of his trial. 203 Adams Ave. Eufaula, OK 74432 what is kip holden doing now A wacky array of clothing Belfield arrives at court in August. 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'. Ben Hewis is perverting the course of justice. According to GoFundMe, which hosted the appeals, he raised a total of 29,446. "Stalking is a crime. ?99 WVdb5KckkVQg;E!qr 0^^jY{EILg%)%4BfyCyvy) Read about our approach to external linking. 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). 603 0 obj <>stream Presenter Iain Lee has since come out to say Belfield targeted him for many years, but that he was too frightened to go to court to give evidence. His last company, Champagne Sippers, incorporated in December 2020, has never filed company accounts. Philip Dehany, a rival theatre blogger, who was targeted by Belfield in YouTube videos. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a 'tsunami of hate', the trial heard. Green was having none of it: I went up to him and I said: You are a grade-A wanker. She stands by that description, but came to regret making an enemy of someone who turned out to be a herculean grudge-holder. To have your reputation destroyed maliciously is unforgivable. That is why I say your stalking is in many respects more serious than a conventional stalker, the judge said. He started his own online show, Celebrity Radio, bagging interviews with famous people in return for advertising plugs, and tried to sell himself as a theatre and restaurant reviewer. Alex Belfield is a 42-year-old former BBC radio star and vlogger who hails from Nottinghamshire. Living on the edge (literally! Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. He also contacted Hewiss clients to undermine his business and encouraged his followers to join in with the abuse. Belfield was not accused of physically stalking the complainants, who were mostly current or former BBC staff. endstream endobj startxref He also agreed with Mr Vines characterisation that the ex-DJ had weaponised the internet against those he targeted. The Guardian asked Bridgen if he regretted supporting Belfield and did not receive a response. 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. It was hard to take any satisfaction from the jailing of this despicable man when he will not serve a single day in jail for what he did to the four Leeds women, he 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'. Belfield, 42, subjected four people in a "relentless" campaign of stalking - including broadcaster Jeremy Vine. They were exonerated. A few weeks after he was sent to jail, most of the 7,000-plus videos Belfield posted on YouTube are still publicly accessible. Alex Belfield has been warned he could be jailed, Alex Belfield was found guilty of "simple" stalking in relation to BBC presenter Jeremy Vine, Alex Belfield was convicted of four offences at Nottingham Crown Court, Mr Belfield was previously a presenter at BBC Radio Leeds. Its not enough to leave us to sink and swim, as we had to in this case, Breen wrote in an email to Rhodri Talfan Davies, the BBCs director of nations. But the judge made further orders protecting the individuals in the stalking charges where Belfield was acquitted - in favour of Rozina Breen, Helen Thomas, Liz Green and Stephanie Hirst under section 5A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. 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. View our online Press Pack. 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. . Each of them suffered a campaign of harassment by email and social media communications. Bernie Keith confirms he's mentally ill and in therapy March 2020. Mr Vine labelled him "the Jimmy Savile of trolling" during the trial which heard he repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails. Prosecutors allege that Belfield, 42, caused serious alarm or distress to Vine, former BBC Radio Leeds mid-morning show host Stephanie Hirst, and BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith. That is a picnic compared to this guy. dragonfly covid testing nyc. Belfield, a former BBC radio presenter turned YouTube free speech advocate, was deeply sorry for the hurt he had caused, said Aubrey, after Belfield was convicted of stalking Vine and three other men online. Belfield became known across theatres as someone who would throw a tantrum if he didnt get the press tickets he wanted. ). Belfield, of Mapperley, Nottingham, denies causing serious alarm or distress to Channel 5 and BBC Radio 2 presenter Mr Vine, former BBC Radio Leeds mid-morning show host Stephanie Hirst, Mr Keith and five other people. Read about our approach to external linking. He was convicted Friday, August 5, 2022, on four counts of stalking. Belfield came with certain baggage, not least an Ofcom reprimand four years earlier, after he had referred to a pregnant teenager on Capital Gold as a dirty little slapper and a dirty little tart. 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. Bernard Spedding - guilty (majority verdict), Philip Dehany - not guilty to the charge on the indictment but guilty of the alternative charge of "simple" stalking (majority verdict), Jeremy Vine - not guilty to the charge on the indictment but guilty of the alternative charge of "simple" stalking (unanimous verdict). "There's a good chance of a custodial sentence," he added. "From his very first email and in the majority of communications thereafter, he used my wife and children as his main weapon to terrify, intimidate and blackmail me," he wrote. Prosecutor John McGuinness QC told Nottingham Crown Court that Alex Belfield's lies had a "devastating effect" on Bernie Keith, who presents the mid-morning show on the BBC station . All Rights Reserved. Mr Justice Saini said Belfield's campaign of harassment had left Mr Keith just seconds away from dying by suicide. Judges are able to vary sentences under section 385 of the Sentencing Act 2020, but the judge decided not to. A "cruel" former BBC local radio presenter has been jailed for five years and 26 weeks for stalking broadcasters including Jeremy Vine. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The court heard the original application was amended to add two more people who did not form part of the criminal trial. He presents aYouTubechannel called Voice of Reason, which has over 361,000 subscribers. I had gone to the police to make it stop and it was just getting worse. Video, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Walkie Talkie architect Rafael Violy dies aged 78, Sonic boom heard as RAF Typhoon jets escort plane, Nelson's 97th-minute stunner gives Arsenal victory. Keith Elliot Greenberg Interview The Day John Lennon Died, Keith Chegwin Exclusive 2015 Interview Celebrity Big Brother. 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. 'On Saturday nights I wasn't allowed to be in the (BBC Radio Northampton) building on my own. The stalking of Mr Keith caused him serious alarm or distress. He did so after the prosecution told him the maximum sentence for this offence was five years, but the maximum sentence is actually 10 years. The optics arent good, says Breen. - a disco for people who want to dance to songs they know from backalong but have nowhere to go. The judge said Belfield had made "wholly false" allegations about Mr Vine stealing 1,000 of BBC licence payers' money, in a video which was viewed by more than 400,000 people. 2023 BBC. He was found guilty of this offence in relation to only two of the complainants - BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Spedding, who is known as Bernie Keith, and videographer Ben Hewis. "Despite four women not securing guilty verdicts, today's custodial sentences are a welcome relief," she wrote. When sentencing Belfield, Mr Justice Saini told him: 'Your offences are so serious, only a custodial sentence can be justified.'. In a statement last week, the BBC said: We know this has been very difficult for those involved and we continue to provide support to current and former staff. He would harass some theatre companies, to the extent that his email address was blocked, and front of house staff were warned about him., Belfield had a complicated relationship with the entertainment industry, the director believes. On this page you will find important information about Human Potential Consultants based in Carson, CA, like the address, contact person and details, as well as the email address Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Hewis encouraged an entire industry to block me.over lies he endorsed! Count 5: BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith, guilty of stalking to cause alarm and distress - Belfield has been given two-and-half years in prison on count 5; The judge said that while Belfield did not physically approach or watch his victims, the effects were just as damaging. Belfield was also convicted of the simple stalking of theatre blogger Philip Dehany, who suffered a vicious campaign of abuse. BBC Radio Leeds presenter Liz Green, who was harassed for 10 years by Belfield. 'Once you sign up, you do what you're told': Duke of Sussex tells trauma expert Gabor Mat 'a lot of us' in the Army 'didn't necessarily agree or disagree' with the West's invasion of Afghanistan but did 'what you're trained to do'. 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. Neither had ever met him. In his closing speech to jurors at Nottingham Crown Court, Belfield said he had a right to freedom of speech, and some of the communications were in his role as a journalist, holding the BBC to account. In August Belfield, of Mapperley, was convicted of stalking to cause alarm and distress to BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith, and guilty of the same charge concerning videographer Ben Hewis. =NYOn:0'tzcD|k1xKx^-58nn-~?Oo>K KJ9OVJN3>:EOLbTk*q2ScG=UrS+0t-qNXZ.3X ;{h0B. Green blames the BBC for the not-guilty verdicts: The reason I believe the court didnt find him guilty on our charges though we will never know what the jury was thinking was because the BBC allowed it to go on for so long. Belfield had harassed this victim, BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernard Spedding, for nine years and some of his followers had sent him death threats. It came following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court, during which the . At first, he grew his audience with silly sketches and phone-ins, railing against government Covid policy, particularly the ban on care-home visits. I live in fear and I have done for a long time, she says. For just over three minutes, the 42-year-old delivered a monologue in which he said he was in prison for simply defending himself. However, Alex Belfield was found not guilty of stalking four other people he was accused of targeting.
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