The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. and BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. Friday Night is our 2nd Handbag Heaven Club Night. 2023 BBC. Instead, he made YouTube videos about them, posted messages on social media, and sent emails either to them or about them. Horrific, vicious, cowardly.". While never submitting himself to cross-examination, he was allowed to deliver a pompous closing speech deriding the case as a BBC and police witch-hunt and describing himself as the No 1 anti-BBC journalist. 'This was the darkest point of my life because there was no end to it. Belfield showed no emotion and wrote on a piece of paper as verdicts were delivered. "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. FORMER BBC radio presenter, Alex Belfield, has been jailed for five and a half years. The jurors accepted Belfield caused serious alarm or distress to two victims - the BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith . 1. 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. The criteria for applying for an order are set out in section 1(1) of the Stalking Protection Act 2019. He and Belfield had known each other through work, the trial heard, but Belfield had never met the other three men he was convicted of stalking. Heres the facts on what happened. 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. ). 0 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. The Guardian asked Bridgen if he regretted supporting Belfield and did not receive a response. 27 febrero, 2023 . For the BBC to protect the liar who did this is unthinkable in 2020. . Find Alex Belfield's email address, contact information, LinkedIn, Twitter, other social media and more. "He had no escape from you," the judge told Belfield. Never miss a crime story with our free email updates. Mr Justice Saini said: You made this highly successful and confident radio presenter lose all joy in life and turned him into a shell. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. 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. 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. 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. His trial heard he made YouTube videos about them, posted messages on social media, sent emails, and also encouraged his followers to target them. 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. . "He said he could see their distress in court and feels deeply sorry for what he did.". That prompted Belfield to set up his secret Voice of Reason channel, which streamed behind a paywall on his website. Would they ever truly be able to escape the man Vine described as an Olympic-level stalker? What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Hewis encouraged an entire industry to block me.over lies he endorsed! 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 . If that way was via abuse, then that was certainly effective in being part of your story. His subscriber count has dropped, but still stands at 354,000. 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. Between 2004 and 2010, he appeared on radio stations, including Mercia FM, Touch FM, BBC Bristol, BBC Radio Shropshire and BBC Hereford and Worcester. 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 . 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. 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. There are lessons to learn clearly and the toxic nature of online hate will only get worse for staff. One of the alleged victims - TV and radio presenter Jeremy Vine - told the trial last week that 42-year-old Belfield is 'the Jimmy Savile of trolling'. I couldn't destroy the gift of life that they (his parents) gave me.'. 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. I had gone to the police to make it stop and it was just getting worse. Breen and Green both think the BBC failed all four women who gave evidence against Belfield. Belfield, who now runs a YouTube channel called The Voice of Reason, told jurors he had legitimate reasons for his online communications. 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. 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. 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 Each of them suffered serious mental health problems arising from Mr Belfield's conduct.". A few months in, alarm bells started to ring, remembers Liz Green, who presented the lunchtime show that followed Belfields each day. "Stalking is a crime. 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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.". Thank you for your patience. ', Belfield had made a bogus claim that he had been sacked, Mr Keith said, adding: 'It was all too much. Instead of a lawyer, he was often accompanied by James Brandon, a member of the old-school comedy duo the Grumbleweeds. Belfield looked pale as he was led down to the cells as more than 20 of his supporters watched silently from the public gallery. At NorthantsLive we're more than just news. The application is being followed-up in its original format, including victims from his trial, and with two more people added - who were not involved in his trial. He soon made it to the top of Belfields hitlist, featuring regularly as a hate figure in his videos and social media posts. 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 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; Even after YouTube stopped him making money from his channel, Belfield was still reasonably flush. Mr Belfield, on 5 August 2022, following a 5 week trial here at Nottingham Crown Court the jury convicted you on 4 counts. 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. 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. The judge, Mr Justice Saini, granted Belfield bail and told him to return to Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing next month. 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 . Read about our approach to external linking. He would invite viewers to send in fan mail not to any registered office but to his local pub, whose landlady he described as his receptionist. As well as jailing Belfield, Mr Justice Saini issued indefinite restraining orders banning the DJ from contacting his victims. Mr Vine was subjected to false and baseless claims relating to the supposed theft of 1,000, the court heard. 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. Belfield was not accused of physically stalking the complainants, who were mostly current or former BBC staff. Bernie Keith (pictured) 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 and false claims, Prosecutors allege that Belfield (pictured arriving at Nottingham Crown Court), 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. And what did he mean by: We will be back? 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. Recommended Ex-BBC DJ guilty of stalking Jeremy Vine during 'vile' hate campaign 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. In relation to Jeremy Vine and theatre blogger Philip Dehany, Belfield was found guilty of two lesser offences of "simple" stalking, which does not require serious alarm or distress to be proved. We have begged the BBC to resolve this quietly and privately. A BBC radio host has revealed that alleged stalking by an ex-staff member left him contemplating suicide. I find you intended to maximise Mr Keiths distress.. 2023 BBC. Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. Belfield became known across theatres as someone who would throw a tantrum if he didnt get the press tickets he wanted. Mr Justice Saini, sentencing, told Belfield, who sat taking notes in the dock: Your offences are so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified.. 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. 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. But when Aubrey caught Covid, Vine opted to be questioned by Belfield rather than delay a long-booked holiday, and found himself being asked about the true meaning of the word cunt. The effect on Keiths life was profound. Former BBC DJ jailed for stalking Jeremy Vine and others, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Thats when Rozina Breen, then the managing editor at BBC Radio Leeds, decided to take what she thought was a calculated chance. I pleaded with him (Belfield) to stop. The post was shared shortly before 3pm on Friday, March 3, and has already had more than 200 responses. Prosecutors allege Mr Belfield, 42, caused serious alarm or distress to Vine, as well as Stephanie Hirst, a former BBC Radio Leeds mid-morning show host, and Bernie Keith, of BBC Radio Northampton. Play it now! Official YouTube stats show that www . He warned him he could then be recalled to prison if he commits a further offence. The Belfield Green knew at Radio Leeds in 2010 was difficult but he wasnt a table-thumping, immigrant-hating rightwing polemicist, she says. The former BBC radio presenter was jailed for five-and-a-half years after being convicted in September. "This was the darkest point of my life because there was no end to it. - a disco for people who want to dance to songs they know from backalong but have nowhere to go. 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. I live in fear and I have done for a long time, she says. Bernie Keith confirms hes mentally ill and in therapy March 2020. After stopping the counselling after three sessions Mr Keith said he also spoke to a specialist who helped stalking victims. Our community guidelines prohibit content that threatens individuals and we have removed several videos for violating these policies.. 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". This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Belfield had denied stalking the 57-year-old, and seven other alleged victims, claiming he was the subject of a witch hunt. 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. "In some cases this has extended to death threats," he said. His last company, Champagne Sippers, incorporated in December 2020, has never filed company accounts. 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 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". Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. 'On Saturday nights I wasn't allowed to be in the (BBC Radio Northampton) building on my own. Feb 8. 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". . while Mr Keith said the . The day he was found guilty he was wearing a Bermuda shirt and shorts. During the trial at Nottingham Crown Court, Judge, Mr Justice Saini spoke of how BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was "seconds away" from killing himself after suffering from tsunami of hate. His voice breaking with emotion, Mr Keith added: 'That removes the hope from my life that I will ever be free of this man. 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. 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. Belfield had harassed this victim, BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernard Spedding, for nine years and some of his followers had sent him death threats. Apparently jealous that Keith's BBC career carried on while his own was . Both question why the corporation only really took the abuse seriously once a well-known man Vine was involved. 2023 BBC. 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. Regardless, the judge clearly considered him a threat. 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 . Alex Belfield arrives at Nottingham crown court in July for the trial in which he was accused of stalking. During his trial, Belfield, 42, of Shaldon Close in Mapperley, had opted not to give evidence in his defence before giving a closing speech, in which he claimed he was a whistleblower who had seen two-and-a-half years of his life torn apart by police inquiries. Others were their boss, Rozina Breen, and Ms Breen's boss Helen Thomas. . 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. Alex Belfield is a 42-year-old former BBC radio star and vlogger who hails from Nottinghamshire. READ MORE:Jury's verdicts delivered in stalking trial of ex-BBC presenter Alex Belfield. He hated being told how to improve by Jeremy, and thats where I think it all started.. I pleaded with him [Belfield] to stop. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a "tsunami of hate", jurors heard. A "cruel" former BBC local radio presenter has been jailed for five years and 26 weeks for stalking broadcasters including Jeremy Vine. But some of the complainants feel they never really got justice. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a 'tsunami of hate', the trial heard. 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 stalking of Mr Keith caused him serious alarm or distress. That all stopped in February this year when YouTube suspended monetisation on Belfields Voice of Reason for violating its creator policy, after a negative article in the Times about high-earning conspiracy theorists. Both question why the corporation only really took the abuse seriously once a well-known man Vine was involved. Another BBC radio presenter, a transgender woman called Stephanie Hirst, became Belfields next target after refusing him an interview after her transition. Giving evidence in court, Vine said: I have in the past had a physical stalker who followed me. = I;& 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.