'I had this naked hate being piled on me every day and I had to be funny and I had to entertain people. 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. Online stalkers like you have an ability to recruit an army of followers whose conduct massively expands the effect of your stalking, he said. Instead of a lawyer, he was often accompanied by James Brandon, a member of the old-school comedy duo the Grumbleweeds. Mr Justice Saini had sentenced Belfield to two-and-a-half years for stalking one of the complainants, Bernie Keith. I can tell you now their proposed review will not claim responsibility nor say sorry. 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 . There are lessons to learn clearly and the toxic nature of online hate will only get worse for staff. Read about our approach to external linking. Prosecutors allege that Alex Belfield caused alarm and distress to eight victims after his contract with BBC Radio Leeds was not renewed in 2011. . I will refer to him by that name. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. 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). Former BBC DJ jailed for stalking Jeremy Vine and others, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. - a disco for people who want to dance to songs they know from backalong but have nowhere to go. I dont think that stuff even bothered him.. "You made this highly successful and confident radio presenter lose all joy in life and turned him into a shell.". Two days have been set aside to hear the application at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on March 7. Unprovoked, anonymous, malicious email published by Ben Hewis Oct 1 2019. That is why I say your stalking is in many respects more serious than a conventional stalker, the judge said. She has asked the BBC to commission an independent investigation into what happened. 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. That he was allowed to play court reporter upset many complainants, particularly as Belfield decided not to give evidence under oath. 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". Both had come to the defence of others under attack by Belfield. "Despite four women not securing guilty verdicts, today's custodial sentences are a welcome relief," she wrote. Nobody from the corporation has apologised for what I and the others faced for more than a decade.. "Bearing in mind the need for an overall proportionate sentence and the principle of totality, I am not satisfied that my final overall sentence of five years and 26 weeks would have been substantially higher had I been made aware of the correct legal position on count 5 [the charge relating to Bernie Keith].". Online stalkers like you have the ability to recruit an army of followers whose conduct massively expands the effect of your stalking. 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. 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. Hazell is one of numerous others who now say Belfield trolled them. 'On Saturday nights I wasn't allowed to be in the (BBC Radio Northampton) building on my own. Belfield, 42, showed no emotion as the verdicts were delivered. 'The counselling didn't work for me - I had never had counselling before and I found it very difficult, very alien.'. Yet, he remains unstable and on air at the BBC. Bernie confirms on air 'they' think he's "bonkers & loony toons". . Something went wrong, please try again later. His subscriber count has dropped, but still stands at 354,000. Read about our approach to external linking. "He now has developed the insight that he didn't have before," Mr Aubrey said. When Alex Belfield was sent to prison for five and a half years last month for online stalking, his accusers cried with relief. Play it now! ): 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? Feb 10th, doors at 7, first dance at 7.30- 11.30. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Belfields final BBC target was Vine, who made the mistake of responding after learning that Belfield had called him and fellow broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire cunts online. 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. Belfield, 42, subjected four people in a "relentless" campaign of stalking - including broadcaster Jeremy Vine. 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. Another BBC radio presenter, a transgender woman called Stephanie Hirst, became Belfields next target after refusing him an interview after her transition. Breen and Green both think the BBC failed all four women who gave evidence against Belfield. Hewis encouraged an entire industry to block me.over lies he endorsed! Between 2004 and 2010, he appeared on radio stations, including Mercia FM, Touch FM, BBC Bristol, BBC Radio Shropshire and BBC Hereford and Worcester. However, Alex Belfield was found not guilty of stalking four other people he was accused of targeting. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith told the court he was left feeling suicidal by what he called Belfield's "tsunami of hate." Belfield's contract with BBC Radio Leeds ended in 2011. It came following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court, during which the . Alex Belfield is a 42-year-old former BBC radio star and vlogger who hails from Nottinghamshire. Read about our approach to external linking. 0
Judges are able to vary sentences under section 385 of the Sentencing Act 2020, but the judge decided not to. Belfield was not accused of physically stalking the complainants, who were mostly current or former BBC staff. Green still works for the BBC but is trying to negotiate a settlement to leave. 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. 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. One of the BBC targets was Bernie Keith, a veteran presenter at BBC Radio Northampton who was once Belfield's friend. It is a powerful weapon for fighting political or commercial enemies . endstream
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What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Asked why it had not banned Belfield from its platform following his conviction, YouTube did not respond. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. 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!. Regardless, the judge clearly considered him a threat. 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. 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". I pleaded with him [Belfield] to stop. Breen sacked him on the spot, but agreed to honour the last two months of his contract. Toggle primary navigation. Our community guidelines prohibit content that threatens individuals and we have removed several videos for violating these policies.. 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. 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. Finally, respite from what for some had been a decade of near-constant abuse. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a "tsunami of hate", the trial heard. It was a nine-year obsession, which saw him make what the judge described as the false and scandalous accusation that Keith regularly had sex in public on gay beaches with strangers. The BBC turned a blind eye to the abuse, says Green: We were not heard. "My initial reaction [to the stalking] was 'He's gone mad'," Mr Spedding told the trial. Ms Breen tweeted that she was glad to finally have justice after 10 years. All prove they have absolutely no understanding of the law. "He said he could see their distress in court and feels deeply sorry for what he did.". Former BBC radio personality Alex Belfield, 42, is also a vlogger from Nottinghamshire. 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'. Ex-BBC presenter guilty of stalking broadcasters including Jeremy Vine and Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith. Belfield looked pale as he was led down to the cells as more than 20 of his supporters watched silently from the public gallery. 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). For just over three minutes, the 42-year-old delivered a monologue in which he said he was in prison for simply defending himself. Bernie Keith who presents mid-morning shows on BBC Radio Northampton, said former BBC Radio Leeds DJ Alex Belfield had subjected him to 'naked' hatred and false 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. 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. "Your methods were, however, just as effective as a way of intimidating your victims, and were in many ways much harder to deal with.". >? =
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. . ', Belfield had made a bogus claim that he had been sacked, Mr Keith said, adding: 'It was all too much. The TV presenter labelled him the Jimmy Savile of trolling during the trial, which heard he repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails. I NEED YOUR HELP TO GET JUSTICE. A security company had also been brought in to collect him from the radio station's car park, Mr Keith said. 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 and BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith. He warned him he could then be recalled to prison if he commits a further offence. Mr Vine also gave evidence against Belfield during the trial, as he said: "This . A former BBC DJ has been found guilty of waging a relentless stalking campaign against broadcasters and subjecting TV presenter Jeremy Vine to an 'avalanche of hatred.' Alex Belfield was labelled . That prompted Belfield to set up his secret Voice of Reason channel, which streamed behind a paywall on his website. Collaborations. 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. 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. He presents aYouTubechannel called Voice of Reason, which has over 361,000 subscribers. 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. His last company, Champagne Sippers, incorporated in December 2020, has never filed company accounts. 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 . According to GoFundMe, which hosted the appeals, he raised a total of 29,446. 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 wife name. Bernard Spedding ignored every single correspondence. 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 judge made restraining orders in relation to all of the complainants, including those Belfield was not convicted of stalking. To have your reputation destroyed maliciously is unforgivable. The Court of Appeal has confirmed Belfield has made an application for permission to appeal his sentence, but said this is "still in the very early stages of the process". I hope you take some time to consider Bernie Keith's statement. Thats a word I have never heard We four were left to suffer and are suffering still, she says. 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. Mr Vine gave evidence against Belfield, of Mapperley, Nottingham, telling jurors: This is not a regular troll here. "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. 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. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. ). 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. arring 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. 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. Breen and Green both think the BBC failed all four women who gave evidence against Belfield. During the trial, Mr Keith told the court he was left feeling suicidal by a tsunami of hate from Alex Belfield. Mr Justice Saini had sentenced Belfield to two-and-a-half years for stalking one of the complainants, Bernie Keith. Unable to work and claiming to be on 86-a-week universal credit when the theatres shut, Belfield reinvented himself as a rightwing shockjock. 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. The day he was found guilty he was wearing a Bermuda shirt and shorts. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. 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. One day, Green says she found a talented young producer crying in the toilets after being shouted at by Belfield. 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. 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 judge explained he did not question the verdicts of the jurors, but was applying the civil standard of proof when making the restraining orders. 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. Here's Celebrity Radio's BBC Bernie Keith & Ben Hewis STATEMENTFull statement on legal action & police inquiry - BBC Bernie Keith / Bernard Spedding & Ben Hewis. Belfield currently hosts the Voice of Reason YouTube channel, which has over 372,000 subscribers. Philip Dehany, a rival theatre blogger, who was targeted by Belfield in YouTube videos. We were the warm-up act.. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a 'tsunami of hate', the trial heard. The BBC reports Alex Belfield, . Belfield, who is 42 and from Nottingham, was originally charged with stalking eight different people, who were mostly current or former BBC staff. 'I can't remember when I have had a run of good sleep of longer than five hours. =NYOn:0'tzcD|k1xKx^-58nn-~?Oo>K KJ9OVJN3>:EOLbTk*q2ScG=UrS+0t-qNXZ.3X ;{h0B. and BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith. I am caught in a constant cycle of exhaustion and fatigue. How much money Belfield made in recent years is unclear. As well as jailing Belfield, Mr Justice Saini issued indefinite restraining orders banning the DJ from contacting his victims. 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'. That is a picnic compared to this guy. 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. "The Crown makes no submission that the overall sentence was, given the new knowledge of the legal position, inappropriate or unduly lenient," said Mr Justice Saini at Leicester Crown Court. UPDATE. Mr Vine faced a torrent of abuse online, including thousands of social media messages from Belfields followers and personal threats. Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. 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. On Count 5 you were convicted of stalking Mr Bernard Spedding - known professionally as Bernie Keith. Call Today! The judge did stop him from interrogating complainants, appointing David Aubrey as a proxy advocate. 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. 15:33, 16 SEP 2022. Despite later coming out as a member of the LGBT community when defending himself against allegations of homophobia in his trial, Belfield attempted to project an image of rampant heterosexuality for much of his life, with frequent references to breasticles and the current or future Mrs Belfield. 6 months later Ben Hewis REFUSES to release the email. Stephanie Hirst presented a show at the station after he left, in the same time slot. 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. 1. We were the learning curve for Belfield. A wacky array of clothing Belfield arrives at court in August. Mr Spedding said Belfield's YouTube videos, emails and social media messages had included highly abusive language and a threat to "hound you for the rest of your life". 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. "Stalking is a crime. Corporate Lawfare and Stalking. 'In April last year I collapsed at my home and had to be taken to hospital. 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. Rozina Breen, the corporation's former Head of North, told . And what did he mean by: We will be back? We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The court heard the original application was amended to add two more people who did not form part of the criminal trial. Friday Night is our 2nd Handbag Heaven Club Night. Finally, respite from what for some had been a decade of near-constant abuse. Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this article! (The person to be protected does not have to have been the victim of the acts mentioned above. How many people signed up for 1 a week is unclear, though some live streams attracted barely 300 viewers. Then in June 2020, Katie Hopkins was permanently banned from Twitter, opening up a gap in the market for anti-woke, anti-immigrant polemics with an English accent. Who is Alex Belfield and why has he been jailed? 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 . 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. ', After describing how he had considered taking his own life, he told the jury: 'I just couldn't do it. 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 effect on Keiths life was profound. 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. Jurors deliberated for 14 hours and 27 minutes before reaching their verdicts, following a four-week trial that began on 5 July. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Alex Belfield was born in . 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. When blocked on Twitter he used other accounts to see what I was tweeting and routinely publicly mocked me to his social media followers, posting screengrabs he could only have obtained by using an account that I hadn't blocked.". The former BBC radio presenter was jailed for five-and-a-half years after being convicted in September. "In some cases this has extended to death threats," he said. Since 2012 Belfield has focused on presenting and producing content for his website Celebrity Radio.
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