She has asked the BBC to commission an independent investigation into what happened. The BBC reports Alex Belfield, . Barring a successful appeal, Belfield will serve at least the next two years and 39 weeks in jail, before being released on licence to serve the second half of his sentence. >? = Remorseless Belfield videos himself as he arrives at court in July. and BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith. He bought his detached house in Mapperley, Nottingham, for 314,950 in October 2018, and it is mortgaged. . 918-707-5636 ohniyou ceiling fan manual. Former BBC local radio DJ Alex Belfield has been found guilty of four . Ben Hewis is perverting the course of justice. People who have worked on this game have also collaborated on the creation of the following games: Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, a group of 620 people; Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault, a group of 361 people; Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, a group of 357 people; inFAMOUS 2, a group of 347 people; SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs, a group of 328 people Breen left this summer to become editor-in-chief at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Corporate Lawfare and Stalking. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Alex Belfield, 42, who "weaponised the internet", . Belfield became known across theatres as someone who would throw a tantrum if he didnt get the press tickets he wanted. I find you intended to maximise Mr Keiths distress.. In relation to Jeremy Vine and theatre blogger Philip Dehany, he was found guilty of two lesser offences of "simple" stalking, which does not require serious alarm or distress to be proved. Belfield was not accused of physically stalking the complainants, who were mostly current or former BBC staff. I will refer to him by that name. Both had come to the defence of others under attack by Belfield. Alex Belfield was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in behind bars (Image: PA) A civil stalking order is being pursued at the magistrates' court against former BBC DJ Alex . Ben Hewis intended to destroy my life, reputation and career. 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. 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. 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.. "You were not a whistleblower in any sense but developed a fixation with pursuing Mr Vine with a campaign of abuse," the judge said. I pleaded with him (Belfield) to stop. 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. Neither had ever met him. "Alex Belfield had no qualms about the abuse he handed out, in many cases publicly.". Most of it had been withdrawn by Belfield by the time GoFundMe got around to banning him for inappropriate off-platform behaviour, with the exception of 5,260, which was refunded to donors. "I will never be able to work out why it has happened to me.". 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. Read about our approach to external linking. The optics arent good, says Breen. 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. 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. Judge Saini jailed Belfield for five years and 26 weeks, accusing him of having weaponised the internet to haunt his targets. He has also been convicted of stalking Bernie Keith and videographer Ben Hewis. 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. Worse, in 2013, a few years into Belfields campaign against her and Breen, the BBCs HR team chose to launch an investigation not into their harassment, but into whether they were guilty of bullying Belfield. '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'. Belfield, who now runs a YouTube channel called The Voice of Reason, told jurors he had legitimate reasons for his online communications. Radio Presenter Age And Net Worth. They were exonerated. Mr Vine was subjected to false and baseless claims relating to the supposed theft of 1,000, the court heard. Ben Hewis is perverting the course of justice. 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. Refuses to deny he wrote the email. For other inquiries, Contact Us. The judge made restraining orders on the four victims: Bernard Spedding (also known as Bernie Keith), Ben Hewis, Philip Dehany and Jeremy Vine. After his first arrest, in June 2020, he started two crowdfunders to raise money to sue first the BBC and then Nottinghamshire police. Close Belfield-watchers believe his lurch to the right was a business decision rather than an ideological one. In court, he claimed to have nine employees, but who they are remains a mystery. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "He said he could see their distress in court and feels deeply sorry for what he did.". 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. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. His voice breaking with emotion, Mr Keith added: 'That removes the hope from my life that I will ever be free of this man. 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. Online stalkers like you have the ability to recruit an army of followers whose conduct massively expands the effect of your stalking. All is explained in the video. He had never gone near anyone, he insisted, and was not accused of threatening any violence. 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. You made communications which had serious impacts on the private lives of the complainants, with distressing effects on their mental and physical health. - a disco for people who want to dance to songs they know from backalong but have nowhere to go. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? Ben Hewis refuses to engage with the police and hand over the email. We also want to learn from this to ensure we offer the best possible support to all colleagues, who may sadly experience the threat and risks of online stalking in the future., Last Friday, the four BBC women received an email saying the BBC had commissioned an internal review to establish what lessons can be learned from the recent criminal case. 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 . You are entitled to hold and express views but you are not entitled to destroy the personal lives of your victims through online harassment.. Friday Night is our 2nd Handbag Heaven Club Night. I live in fear and I have done for a long time, she says. endstream endobj startxref He presents a YouTube channel called Voice of Reason, which has over 361,000 subscribers. His last company, Champagne Sippers, incorporated in December 2020, has never filed company accounts. 27 febrero, 2023 . The Guardian asked Bridgen if he regretted supporting Belfield and did not receive a response. Belfield currently hosts the Voice of Reason YouTube channel, which has over 372,000 subscribers. %%EOF The jurors accepted Belfield caused serious alarm or distress to two victims - the BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith . 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. 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". The police are advised to consider applying for an order where it appears to them that: Belfield was jailed last September after he was found guilty of waging a relentless stalking campaign against BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith, and subjecting TV presenter Jeremy Vine to an "avalanche of hatred" - but has since lodged an appeal. 2023 BBC. Mr Justice Saini had sentenced Belfield to two-and-a-half years for stalking one of the complainants, Bernie Keith. Each of them suffered serious mental health problems arising from Mr Belfield's conduct.". 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. Belfield also published Mr Vine's address to a "mass audience", the judge said. That he was allowed to play court reporter upset many complainants, particularly as Belfield decided not to give evidence under oath. alex belfield wife name. In relation to the women, the judge said: "Each of them suffered a campaign of harassment by email and social media communications. '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.'. We were the learning curve for Belfield. But Breen thought he would bring personality to the station. Here's Celebrity Radio's BBC Bernie Keith & Ben Hewis STATEMENTFull statement on legal action & police inquiry - BBC Bernie Keith / Bernard Spedding & Ben Hewis . What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Belfield looked pale as he was led down to the cells as more than 20 of his supporters watched silently from the public gallery. ): 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? Toggle primary navigation. 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. Last month, Belfield was found guilty of stalking Hewis and BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith, and convicted of "simple" stalking - which means stalking without alarm or distress . "Your methods were, however, just as effective as a way of intimidating your victims, and were in many ways much harder to deal with.". Breen sacked him on the spot, but agreed to honour the last two months of his contract. When not filming himself he would address his camera operator as Tarquin. A civil stalking order is being pursued at the magistrates' court against former BBC DJ Alex Belfield, from Mapperley, who is now serving a sentence of more than five years in prison for his shameful conduct online. Hazell is one of numerous others who now say Belfield trolled them. 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. 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Mr Justice Saini added: "You made communications which had serious impacts on the private lives of the complaints and had distressing effects on their physical and mental health.''. The criteria for applying for an order are set out in section 1(1) of the Stalking Protection Act 2019. 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. He realised what he could do and did it with impunity. BBC Radio Leeds presenter Liz Green, who was harassed for 10 years by Belfield. The BBC turned a blind eye to the abuse, says Green: We were not heard. One day, Green says she found a talented young producer crying in the toilets after being shouted at by Belfield. 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. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. 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. Here's Celebrity Radio's BBC Bernie Keith & Ben Hewis STATEMENTFull statement on legal action & police inquiry - BBC Bernie Keith / Bernard Spedding & Ben Hewis. 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. Belfield, 42, subjected four people in a "relentless" campaign of stalking - including broadcaster Jeremy Vine. Apparently jealous that Keith's BBC career carried on while his own was . Finally, respite from what for some had been a decade of near-constant abuse. 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. Mr Vine also gave evidence against Belfield during the trial, as he said: "This . 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. Belfield clearly resented being there, recalls Hazell He was sulking and had a face like thunder. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a "tsunami of hate", the trial heard. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 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 Bernard Spedding (known as Bernie Keith) between 25 November 2012 and 2 April 2017, and between 3 April 2017 and 31 March 2021. . 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. The optics arent good former managing editor at BBC Radio Leeds Rozina Breen.