Finally, respite from what for some had been a decade of near-constant abuse. Belfield showed no emotion and wrote on a piece of paper as verdicts were delivered. 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. is an English professional association football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.The club was formed in the late 1870s and in 1884 they took the name Burslem Port Vale, dropping the 'Burslem' prefix in 1907. The verdicts in relation to each complainant, in the order they appeared on the indictment, were: In mitigation, barrister David Aubrey KC said Belfield had not intended to cause his victims distress, but could now see that he had. His subscriber count has dropped, but still stands at 354,000. 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When 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 engage with the police and hand over the email. Another of Belfields victims was a videographer targeted after tweeting his disgust at one of the defendants YouTube videos, sending a foetal scan to the man and trying to contact his then-pregnant wife. The relief was temporary. One day, Green says she found a talented young producer crying in the toilets after being shouted at by Belfield. 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. Very soon after Vine complained, by contrast, the BBC appointed a QC to conduct its own investigation into Belfields behaviour, which it handed to Nottinghamshire police. Bernie Keithwho 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. Alex Belfield was born in . But some of the complainants feel they never really got justice. Ben Hewis is a videographer who works in the theatre and wedding industries and Philip Dehany was a rival theatre blogger. Similar orders in favour of four other individuals the BBCs former head of the north Rozina Breen, former BBC Radio Leeds presenters Liz Green and Stephanie Hirst, and BBC executive Helen Thomas were also made. His last company, Champagne Sippers, incorporated in December 2020, has never filed company accounts. Full statement on legal action & police inquiry BBC Bernie Keith / Bernard Spedding & Ben Hewis. 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. Both question why the corporation only really took the abuse seriously once a well-known man Vine was involved. Even after YouTube stopped him making money from his channel, Belfield was still reasonably flush. Former BBC local radio DJ Alex Belfield has been found guilty of four . 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 . The civil application, which pre-dates the criminal case, is for a Stalking Protection Order on the basis he has carried out acts associated with stalking. This apology does not make it OK. Mr Vine was subjected to false and baseless claims relating to the supposed theft of 1,000, the court heard. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. At first, he grew his audience with silly sketches and phone-ins, railing against government Covid policy, particularly the ban on care-home visits. Mr Vine faced a torrent of abuse online, including thousands of social media messages from Belfields followers and personal threats. Belfield looked pale as he was led down to the cells as more than 20 of his supporters watched silently from the public gallery. Do not sell or share my personal information. She suffered years of what the judge described as transphobic and hateful comments motivated in part at least by feelings of jealousy as to her success when his own career within the BBC had foundered. The judge said that while Belfield did not physically approach or watch his victims, the effects were just as damaging. She has asked the BBC to commission an independent investigation into what happened. READ MORE:Jury's verdicts delivered in stalking trial of ex-BBC presenter Alex Belfield. Bernard Spedding ignored every single correspondence. The morning of his sentencing, Belfield had sat silent in the dock at Nottingham crown court as barrister David Aubrey KC finally mitigated on his behalf. 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. Belfield, 42, subjected four people in a "relentless" campaign of stalking - including broadcaster Jeremy Vine. Belfield also published Mr Vine's address to a "mass audience", the judge said. 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. Philip Dehany, a rival theatre blogger, who was targeted by Belfield in YouTube videos. Im clearly of more risk to this country than a man who is attracted to children, he deadpanned. Mr Justice Saini said: You made this highly successful and confident radio presenter lose all joy in life and turned him into a shell. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. "He had to ask his family to watch out for you and to take care in and around their home address.". Vine said it is very, very important that the BBC learn lessons from what happened to the women at BBC Leeds. The Guardian asked Bridgen if he regretted supporting Belfield and did not receive a response. He realised what he could do and did it with impunity. For each of these offences he was sentenced to 13 weeks, also to run consecutively. Never miss a crime story with our free email updates. Broadcaster Alex Belfield arrested FIVE times and strip-searched in 'BBC witch-hunt' The Home Secretary has been asked to intervene in an alleged "witch hunt" of a former BBC DJ who has been . Who is Alex Belfield and why has he been jailed? "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 performed 56 shows in 2012, 48 shows in 2013, 52 shows in 2014 & 54 shows in 2015.. With up to 3 or 4 shows a day - this years mammoth tour was his biggest production yet! American mom living in Paris mesmerizes internet after revealing the VERY surprising after-school snack kids eat in France. The effect on Keiths life was profound. Fans, largely older women, were often in the public gallery to show support. Refuses to deny he wrote the email. 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'. A BBC radio host has revealed that alleged stalking by an ex-staff member left him contemplating suicide. Ben Hewis is perverting the course of justice. Breen left this summer to become editor-in-chief at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. 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). Giving evidence in court, Vine said: I have in the past had a physical stalker who followed me. I couldn't destroy the gift of life that they (his parents) gave me.'. In September 1997, he began his career as part of the launch team of Radio 106. How many people signed up for 1 a week is unclear, though some live streams attracted barely 300 viewers. Four women, past and previous BBC DJs and executives, had also accused Belfield of stalking them via email and social media, but the jury found him not guilty on those charges. Recommended Ex-BBC DJ guilty of stalking Jeremy Vine during 'vile' hate campaign The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Mr Spedding, the trial heard, was left feeling suicidal by a "tsunami of hate" from Belfield. Belfield compared his treatment with that of a police officer who had escaped jail despite being convicted of possessing child abuse images. If you can help with mounting legal costs please email alex@alexbelfield.co.uk, Uploaded by Alex Belfield at Celebrity Radio 13th March 2020. Mr Belfield was today sentenced to five years and 26 months in prison at Nottingham Crown Court. The judge said he agreed with some of the witnesses in the case, who said Belfield had "weaponised the internet". What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? 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. 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. Weve presented the BBC and RPCs Nicola Cain (now left the case as Bernies lawyer) with indisputable evidence that we believe BBC Northamptons Bernie Keith wrote this unprovoked attack. 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.. The prosecution said the YouTuber's stalking was more akin to 'internet trolling' than physical stalking, sending emails, tweets or making videos and subjecting victims to harassment and abuse - some of them over the course of many years. 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. 27 febrero, 2023 . I live in fear and I have done for a long time, she says. Horrific, vicious, cowardly.". 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. =NYOn:0'tzcD|k1xKx^-58nn-~?Oo>K KJ9OVJN3>:EOLbTk*q2ScG=UrS+0t-qNXZ.3X ;{h0B. He is being sued for libel by Vine, as well as by the Nottinghamshire police detective in charge of the case against him, and when ordered to pay Vines initial costs of 26,000 after failing to file a defence on time, paid up, in October 2021, within a few days. She was looking for a new presenter to liven up the mid-morning show and thought Belfield, who was working for BBC Hereford and Worcester, was the man for the job. \Mb+r'rS~(aU\voP GCK16X0v04p62h,3 0b``f:(x3j=)\-u`IL! Ben Hewis refuses to communicate with Nottingham Police. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left suicidal by a "tsunami of hate", the trial was also told. Both had come to the defence of others under attack by Belfield. Belfield, who now runs a YouTube channel called The Voice of Reason, told jurors he had legitimate reasons for his online communications. and BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith. 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. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. 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. Repeating a libel is not a defense in court. alex belfield wife namemr patel neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 . 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. It sent this statement: Monetisation on the Voice of Reason channel remains suspended for violating our creator responsibility policy. Hazell is one of numerous others who now say Belfield trolled them. In September 2001 he began his career as a radio host after joining BBC Radio Leicester. Some feel he was given too much power in his own trial. A former BBC radio presenter has been found guilty of stalking four people including broadcaster Jeremy Vine. Steven J Miller, another YouTuber, explained Belfields initial appeal in his own video, recorded after Belfield was jailed: Alex Belfield was responsible for putting smiles on thousands and thousands of peoples faces and he did that not by slagging people off but by him being him. People loved Belfields innuendos, said Miller, giving an example of when Belfield filmed himself on a train platform as a train whizzed by and exclaimed: Oh, I nearly got sucked off!. Judges are able to vary sentences under section 385 of the Sentencing Act 2020, but the judge decided not to. "You were not a whistleblower in any sense but developed a fixation with pursuing Mr Vine with a campaign of abuse," the judge said. Instantly disprovable lies published by Ben Hewis. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Mr Justice Saini had sentenced Belfield to two-and-a-half years for stalking one of the complainants, Bernie Keith. Recalling how he was offered counselling in 2020, the presenter told the court: 'I had three sessions before lockdown came into force. 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. Breen says she and others flagged Belfields behaviour repeatedly but were told just not to look at the emails, or to delete them. We were the learning curve for Belfield. I pleaded with him [Belfield] to stop. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, 'I felt different to the rest of my family - and my mum felt the same': Prince Harry opens up on his 'broken home' upbringing saying parents rowing in front of children 'is not a good idea' - but FAILS to mention William once in 90min toxic trauma chat, DONALD J TRUMP: The world has finally woken to the truth about the Wuhan virus. He has also been convicted of stalking Bernie Keith and videographer Ben Hewis. Toggle primary navigation. 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. Prosecutors claimed Belfield subjected Vine to a relentless online campaign that included a wave of personal and unpleasant attacks on YouTube,TwitterandFacebookover an 11-month period. 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 women were told: The aim of the review is to provide recommendations to the BBC on how it can best support colleagues facing online stalking or significant social media harassment.. ', After describing how he had considered taking his own life, he told the jury: 'I just couldn't do it. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? The court heard the original application was amended to add two more people who did not form part of the criminal trial. "There's a good chance of a custodial sentence," he added. Regardless, the judge clearly considered him a threat. Mr Vine gave evidence against Belfield, of Mapperley, Nottingham, telling jurors: This is not a regular troll here. 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. A few weeks after he was sent to jail, most of the 7,000-plus videos Belfield posted on YouTube are still publicly accessible. 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. 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. endstream endobj startxref 'I will never be able to work out why it has happened to me.'. Police inquiry opened Feb 2020 Nottinghamshire Police. He was terrified of you. Belfield, who is 42 and from Nottingham, was originally charged with stalking eight different people, who were mostly current or former BBC staff. I had gone to the police to make it stop and it was just getting worse. They were exonerated. 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 . 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. 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. BBC & RPC lawyers refuse to deny BBC DJ Bernard Spedding / Bernie Keith wrote email. 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. Collaborations. 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. He will be even more unbearable, she said in an Instagram video, with a twinkle in her eye that suggested she can hardly wait. Keith Elliot Greenberg Interview The Day John Lennon Died, Keith Chegwin Exclusive 2015 Interview Celebrity Big Brother. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Alex Belfield and Katie Hopkins in a video on her YouTube channel, advertising the show they did together. The judge told Belfield that while not traditional stalking, his methods were just as effective a way of intimidating victims and in many ways much harder to deal with. 603 0 obj <>stream He had never gone near anyone, he insisted, and was not accused of threatening any violence. 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'. 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". I accept the evidence that Mr Belfield effectively followed these women by online harassment throughout their careers, said the judge. He was cleared of stalking charges in relation to the BBC's former head of North Rozina Breen, former BBC Radio Leeds presenters Liz Green and Stephanie Hirst, and former BBC worker Helen Thomas. 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 . 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! This was a man who had not only eschewed lawyers to represent himself in court, but who had reported on his own trial each night online; a man who even after being found guilty, appeared on stage in Blackpool with controversial rightwing commentator Katie Hopkins, playing up his role as The Stalker as he awaited sentence. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a "tsunami of hate", the trial heard. Friday Night is our 2nd Handbag Heaven Club Night. 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. 'Because of the tsunami of hate and threats that were coming in to me, we had to have someone else sat in the building with me.'. The optics arent good, says Breen. 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. All Rights Reserved. Alex Belfield is a 42-year-old former BBC radio star and vlogger who hails from Nottinghamshire. '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'. He also contacted Hewiss clients to undermine his business and encouraged his followers to join in with the abuse. 918-707-5636 ohniyou ceiling fan manual. 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. Online stalkers like you have the ability to recruit an army of followers whose conduct massively expands the effect of your stalking. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. hen Alex Belfield was sent to prison for five and a half years last month for online stalking, his accusers cried with relief. Hewis tweet and email vindictively intended to destroy my career and reputation. I AM A VICTIM OF A CRIME. Mr Vine also gave evidence against Belfield during the trial, as he said: "This . . We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 'My initial reaction (to the alleged stalking) was ''He's gone mad'',' Mr Keith said. Alex Belfield is currently in prison after being convicted of stalking four men, Belfield made videos throughout his trial and posted them on YouTube. Hewis encouraged an entire industry to block me.over lies he endorsed! We cover what people are talking about every day and celebrate the very best that this incredible part of the world has to offer. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? 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. Then began a 10-year campaign of harassment against both Breen and Green, as well as Helen Thomas, Breens line manager, who was head of regional and local programming for Yorkshire. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. Iain Lee says he was "too scared" to take former BBC radio presenter Alex Belfield to court, claiming that the convicted stalker made his life "miserable".. Belfield, 42, was sentenced to more than five years in prison on Friday after being found guilty of stalking four people, including the TV presenter Jeremy Vine, 57.. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? BBC Radio Leeds presenter Liz Green, who was harassed for 10 years by Belfield. Read about our approach to external linking. Sanctimonious, petulant and remorseless, taking elements of fact and twisting them to suit his own purposes while belittling his targets and monetising these distortions, even as he sat in a prison cell. Giving evidence to Nottingham Crown Court under his full name of Bernie Keith Spedding, he said his reputation is 'now in shreds' after 'proclamations of hate' and death threats, which have affected his health. When sentencing Belfield, Mr Justice Saini told him: 'Your offences are so serious, only a custodial sentence can be justified.'. 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. Asked why it had not banned Belfield from its platform following his conviction, YouTube did not respond. Bernie confirms on air they think hes bonkers & loony toons. 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. Judge tells Alex Belfield to expect jail over nine-year 'campaign of harassment' 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 BBC turned a blind eye to the abuse, says Green: We were not heard. The final two victims who went to court and testified against Belfield were both from the theatre world. I think the jury thought: Oh, it cant have been that bad. She says Belfield has destroyed her mental health, and that she was so frightened that he or his followers would turn up at her house, she spent 20,000 on security measures. Former BBC radio personality Alex Belfield, 42, is also a vlogger from Nottinghamshire. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. 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. He added there was no escape for Belfields victims, until bail conditions were imposed ahead of his trial. 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". 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. 2023 BBC. The Version table provides details related to the release that this issue/RFE will be addressed.
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