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. The court heard the original application was amended to add two more people who did not form part of the criminal trial. The final two victims who went to court and testified against Belfield were both from the theatre world. The day he was found guilty he was wearing a Bermuda shirt and shorts. (takes 20 seconds to download full statement plus call to Hewis). Your email address will not be published. It could be interpreted as a reluctance to expose systemic failings and a complete failure in duty of care. >? = = I;& hb```6Ad`0p Alex Belfield: Bernie Keith BBC Radio Northampton, 14 March 2020 (25 mins) Is Alex Belfield a victim of lawfare? 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. But some of the complainants feel they never really got justice. Saying he was proud of how he had managed to keep his troubles from his audience, the radio presenter continued: 'It's come at a huge personal toll. That he was allowed to play court reporter upset many complainants, particularly as Belfield decided not to give evidence under oath. READ MORE:Jury's verdicts delivered in stalking trial of ex-BBC presenter Alex Belfield. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. . (The person to be protected does not have to have been the victim of the acts mentioned above. He will be even more unbearable, she said in an Instagram video, with a twinkle in her eye that suggested she can hardly wait. 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. ): 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? 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. 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. For the TV presenter Jeremy Vine, the most high-profile target of arguably Britains most prolific troll, it would be the first time in several years that he could host a live phone-in without worrying that one of Belfields acolytes would hijack the programme to confront him with Belfields lies. In 2006, he presented the breakfast show on Capital Gold in Birmingham for six weeks, before moving to London to take over the station's networked national late show called The Late Night Revolution. Sometimes these emails included what the judge said were highly offensive and personal comments about their physical appearance, including sexualised comments as well as wholly false allegations that the women had bullied him. In Mr Keiths case, the abuse was sustained over nine years, with the judge saying he had no escape from Belfield, who made up and repeated a wholly false and scandalous allegation about his former friend. The 42-year-old was also found guilty of stalking BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith and videographer Ben Hewis. He was convicted Friday, August 5, 2022, on four counts of stalking. Green says she is deeply disappointed that the BBC did not commission an independent inquiry. . The club joined the English Football League in 1892 as founder members of the Football League Second Division and though they resigned in 1907, they . 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. At NorthantsLive we're more than just news. Speaking after the verdicts, Sheryl Monk from the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Stalking is a very serious crime that has a severe impact on its victims. Jeremy Vine arriving at Nottingham Crown Court in July. Here's Celebrity Radio's BBC Bernie Keith & Ben Hewis STATEMENTFull statement on legal action & police inquiry - BBC Bernie Keith / Bernard Spedding & Ben Hewis. It was lockdown that offered Belfield an opportunity to make some proper money. Belfield, who has 361,000 followers on his YouTube channel, The Voice Of Reason, and 43,000 on Twitter, directed his attacks via social media in highly negative and often abusive terms, the judge said. Ex-BBC presenter Alex Belfield's campaign of harassment had left Northampton's Bernie Keith just seconds away from suicide. It was classic Belfield. One of the complainants was his former colleague, Liz Green, who also presented a show at the radio station. Horrific, vicious, cowardly.". Belfield started wearing Trump polo shirts and began campaigning against small boat crossings in the Channel, using a dinghy as a prop for his live shows. Remorseless Belfield videos himself as he arrives at court in July. Who is Alex Belfield and why has he been jailed? Mr Justice Saini said Belfield developed a fixation in pursuing Mr Vine with a campaign of abuse, with the broadcaster having to warn his wife and children to watch out for the defendant, especially after his home address was published by his followers. Police inquiry opened Feb 2020 Nottinghamshire Police. Though the BBC knew Belfield was spreading lies about them in public, at no point did anyone from the BBC refute the allegations, she says. The judge told Belfield he will serve up to half of his sentence in prison and the remainder on licence. Alex Belfield, a former BBC presenter, appears at Nottingham Crown Court, on 12 counts of stalking on July 29, 2021. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Ten months into the job, Belfield pushed his luck too far in an innuendo-laden chat with the stations weather presenter, in which he suggested he had been masturbating over her. Finally, respite from what for some had been a decade of near-constant abuse. For each of these charges he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, to run consecutively. A "cruel" former BBC local radio presenter has been jailed for five years and 26 weeks for stalking broadcasters including Jeremy Vine. =NYOn:0'tzcD|k1xKx^-58nn-~?Oo>K KJ9OVJN3>:EOLbTk*q2ScG=UrS+0t-qNXZ.3X ;{h0B. Prosecutors allege that Belfield, 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. "He now has developed the insight that he didn't have before," Mr Aubrey said. ', Belfield had made a bogus claim that he had been sacked, Mr Keith said, adding: 'It was all too much. 562 0 obj <> endobj How much money Belfield made in recent years is unclear. 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). Within hours, a video appeared on Belfields secret video channel, accessible to anyone willing to pay him a pound a week. Alleged stalker 'is victim of BBC witch-hunt', Jeremy Vine tells trial of 'avalanche of hatred', BBC boss 'terrified by radio host's stalking', Ex-BBC presenter 'stalked fellow broadcasters', Police appeal after stolen tools recovered, Jacksdale ferret rescue plans much-needed fundraiser, Plans for fast food outlets and a bar outside Motorpoint Arena, Huge solar farm near Gotham and East Leake recommended for approval, Community clean-up aims to improve feeling of safety in Warsop, Hucknall bus window smashed by yob with a brick, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left suicidal by a "tsunami of hate", the trial was also told. 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. Corporate Lawfare and Stalking. Ben Hewis refuses to engage with the police and hand over the email. Feb 10th, doors at 7, first dance at 7.30- 11.30. He has been contacted 5 times to remove his outrageous claims. Finally, respite from what for some had been a decade of near-constant abuse. 1. Would they ever truly be able to escape the man Vine described as an Olympic-level stalker? She has asked the BBC to commission an independent investigation into what happened. 578 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<64333CF35435EE40AE1982510F889B77>]/Index[562 42]/Info 561 0 R/Length 90/Prev 190620/Root 563 0 R/Size 604/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Belfield, who is 42 and from Nottingham, was originally charged with stalking eight different people, who were mostly current or former BBC staff. That is a picnic compared to this guy. hbbd```b``"H %&jv`8Z`` Hy |AAg%@ !CI 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. Jurors deliberated for 14 hours and 27 minutes before reaching their verdicts, following a four-week trial that began on 5 July. Call Today! Prosecutors allege that Alex Belfield caused alarm and distress to eight victims after his contract with BBC Radio Leeds was not renewed in 2011. . Former BBC radio personality Alex Belfield, 42, is also a vlogger from Nottinghamshire. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? He loved and hated showbusiness, and if he couldnt be you, hed have you, and be part of you, another way. Each of them suffered serious mental health problems arising from Mr Belfield's conduct.". 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. Mr Justice Saini had sentenced Belfield to two-and-a-half years for stalking one of the complainants, Bernie Keith. The full wording of the charges stated he "pursued a course of conduct that amounted to harassment" of the complainants, which "amounted to stalking" and caused them "serious alarm or distress". Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a 'tsunami of hate', the trial heard. 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. 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. Ex-BBC presenter Alex Belfield's "campaign of harassment" had left Northampton's Bernie Keith "just seconds away" from suicide. Sprechrollen (Serien) Basil Langton (als Frsorger) in Star Trek: Raumschiff Voyager (1995-2001) in 2 Episoden ; Stephen Elliott (als Richter Harold Aldrich) in Chicago Hope - En 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. When Alex Belfield was sent to prison for five and a half years last month for online stalking, his accusers cried with relief. As Prince Harry says he felt like the film 'the boy in the bubble' before having therapy, who was 12-year-old David Vetter whose tragic story inspired the documentary? By 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. Belfield was found not guilty of stalking Rozina Breen, Liz Green, Helen Thomas and Stephanie Hirst. 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. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. According to the Institute of Lawfare, lawfare is the misuse and abuse of the law for political, commercial and military ends. and BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. endstream endobj 563 0 obj <>/Metadata 36 0 R/Pages 560 0 R/StructTreeRoot 43 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences 579 0 R>> endobj 564 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 595.32 841.92]/Parent 560 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 565 0 obj <>stream The judge said it was an aggravating factor that Belfield's harassment was public, as this caused his social media followers to also abuse Mr Spedding over a "lengthy period". "Despite four women not securing guilty verdicts, today's custodial sentences are a welcome relief," she wrote. hen Alex Belfield was sent to prison for five and a half years last month for online stalking, his accusers cried with relief. Ben Hewis refuses to communicate with Nottingham Police. 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. The judge said one of his victims came close to killing himself. Read about our approach to external linking. Bernard Spedding ignored every single correspondence. Belfield was also convicted of the simple stalking of theatre blogger Philip Dehany, who suffered a vicious campaign of abuse. 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. The judge made restraining orders on the four victims: Bernard Spedding (also known as Bernie Keith), Ben Hewis, Philip Dehany and Jeremy Vine. His aim was, in his own words, to haunt his victims, and he deployed his army of followers to pile on with abusive messages to those targeted, said Mr Justice Saini. On Count 5, I had gone to the police to make it stop and it was just getting worse. He also agreed with Mr Vines characterisation that the ex-DJ had weaponised the internet against those he targeted. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. First Belfield bawled out the stations beloved gardening correspondent for a perceived act of insubordination, prompting a surge of listener complaints. Alex Belfield repeatedly posted abusive social media messages after his BBC contract wasn't renewed (Picture: PA) . 'I can't remember when I have had a run of good sleep of longer than five hours. We cover what people are talking about every day and celebrate the very best that this incredible part of the world has to offer. Belfield was not accused of physically stalking the complainants, who were mostly current or former BBC staff. Rozina Breen, the corporation's former Head of North, told . although such was the effect of what Alex Belfield did that some were . Mr Justice Saini said Belfield's campaign of harassment had left Mr Keith just seconds away from dying by suicide. 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. I couldn't destroy the gift of life that they (his parents) gave me.'. 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. The optics arent good, says Breen. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? alex belfield wife namemr patel neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 . This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The optics arent good former managing editor at BBC Radio Leeds Rozina Breen. In December 2011, Belfield made his debut on BBC Radio 2 with Jimmy Savile's "last in-depth interview", recorded at Savile's Leeds home in February that year. After 6 months the BBC REFUSE to defend Bernie Keith and deny he sent it after 100+ emails. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. During the trial, Mr Keith told the court he was left feeling suicidal by a tsunami of hate from Alex Belfield. 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. Belfield had harassed this victim, BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernard Spedding, for nine years and some of his followers had sent him death threats. The optics arent good, says Breen. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Collaborations. It came following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court, during which the . I pleaded with him [Belfield] to stop. There are lessons to learn clearly and the toxic nature of online hate will only get worse for staff. Fixed: Release in which this issue/RFE has been fixed.The release containing this fix may be available for download as an Early Access Release or a General Availability Release. Some feel he was given too much power in his own trial. But some of the complainants feel they never really got justice. Both question why the corporation only really took the abuse seriously once a well-known man Vine was involved. Alex Belfield is convicted of stalking four people online but cleared of stalking four others.
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