The Version table provides details related to the release that this issue/RFE will be addressed. "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. 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.. . 918-707-5636 ohniyou ceiling fan manual. Former BBC DJ Belfield was jailed in September after he was found guilty of waging a relentless stalking campaign against BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith, and subjecting TV presenter Jeremy . Published: 11:08 EST, 21 July 2022 | Updated: 11:22 EST, 21 July 2022. Police inquiry opened Feb 2020 Nottinghamshire Police. Keith Elliot Greenberg Interview The Day John Lennon Died, Keith Chegwin Exclusive 2015 Interview Celebrity Big Brother. 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. A few months in, alarm bells started to ring, remembers Liz Green, who presented the lunchtime show that followed Belfields each day. He had never gone near anyone, he insisted, and was not accused of threatening any violence. Bernie confirms on air they think hes bonkers & loony toons. The judge said one of his victims came close to killing himself. After stopping the counselling after three sessions Mr Keith said he also spoke to a specialist who helped stalking victims. 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. One of the BBC targets was Bernie Keith, a veteran presenter at BBC Radio Northampton who was once Belfields friend. When not filming himself he would address his camera operator as Tarquin. alex belfield wife namemr patel neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 . Read about our approach to external linking. The sentences on each charge Belfield was convicted on: 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; Count 6: Videographer Ben Hewis, guilty of stalking to cause alarm and distress - the sentence is consecutive to the previous term for the stalking of Mr Keith. 'This was the darkest point of my life because there was no end to it. 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 YouTube subscribers or in bitter emails to their bosses or clients. = I;&
The former BBC radio presenter was jailed for five-and-a-half years after being convicted in September. His planned appeal has now been mentioned in court by the trial judge, at a hearing which related to an error made when Belfield was sentenced. 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. All is explained in the video. Stephanie Hirst, who took over Alex Belfield's slot at BBC Radio . 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. Philip Dehany, a rival theatre blogger, who was targeted by Belfield in YouTube videos. 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. Refuses to deny he wrote the email. 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 Ben Hewis is perverting the course of justice. In relation to the women, the judge said: "Each of them suffered a campaign of harassment by email and social media communications. 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. 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. I live in fear and I have done for a long time, she says. "There's a good chance of a custodial sentence," he added. We were the learning curve for Belfield. 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 . UPDATE. A former BBC radio presenter found guilty of stalking four people including broadcaster Jeremy Vine has been jailed for five and a half years. His subscriber count has dropped, but still stands at 354,000. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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. Former BBC presenter found guilty of stalking, 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. For each of these offences he was sentenced to 13 weeks, also to run consecutively. 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. 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. Two days have been set aside to hear the application at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on March 7. 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. UPDATE. I AM A VICTIM OF A CRIME. although such was the effect of what Alex Belfield did that some were . 100+ emails sent/received from BBC & lawyers no defense of Spedding whatsoever. Alex Belfield is currently in prison after being convicted of stalking four men, Belfield made videos throughout his trial and posted them on YouTube. 'My reputation is now in shreds because all of this has been seen throughout my industry and the wider population. 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. For just over three minutes, the 42-year-old delivered a monologue in which he said he was in prison for simply defending himself. "In some cases this has extended to death threats," he said. 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. Belfield also phoned Dehanys mother and then threatened to broadcast the call an outrageous and cruel act, said Saini and effectively sought to blackmail him by revealing details of a long-spent conviction. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 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. It was lockdown that offered Belfield an opportunity to make some proper money. Feb 8. I accept the evidence that Mr Belfield effectively followed these women by online harassment throughout their careers, said the judge. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. 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. Stayed tuned - Alex Murdaugh's sordid tale is just getting started, Alex Murdaugh's head is shaved as he is booked into South Carolina prison fortress for weeks of evaluation before being sent to a maximum security facility housing the 'worst of the worst', At least 10 dead as wild storms lash the U.S: Tornadoes and golf ball-sized hail topples trucks and leaves one million without power in Kentucky, Alabama and Arkansas - after dumping 17 feet of snow in California, Massive gas tanker crashes in Maryland and EXPLODES into fireball killing the driver and setting local residents' homes ablaze as large plumes of black smoke and embers billow from crash site, 'I want to be a French child!' 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". Alex Belfield was convicted of four charges following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court, Belfield was found guilty of "simple" stalking in relation to BBC presenter Jeremy Vine, Belfield was previously a presenter at BBC Radio Leeds, Belfield made videos throughout his trial and posted them on YouTube. The 42-year-old, from Nottingham, is due to be sentenced on 16 September and has been warned he could be jailed. - a disco for people who want to dance to songs they know from backalong but have nowhere to go. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 6 months later the BBC refuse to reveal which BBC person wrote the email. Refuses to deny he wrote the email. They were exonerated. 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 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. 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. If that way was via abuse, then that was certainly effective in being part of your story. "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. hen Alex Belfield was sent to prison for five and a half years last month for online stalking, his accusers cried with relief. The relief was temporary. Mr Vine faced a torrent of abuse online, including thousands of social media messages from Belfields followers and personal threats. Ben Hewis is perverting the course of justice. 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. Here's Celebrity Radio's BBC Bernie Keith & Ben Hewis STATEMENTFull statement on legal action & police inquiry - BBC Bernie Keith / Bernard Spedding & Ben Hewis. Hewis tweet and email vindictively intended to destroy my career and reputation. Perhaps that independent review would expose those at the very top (men) who left us exposed. (takes 20 seconds to download full statement plus call to Hewis). Why do the four women involved feel let down? ). 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'. He also contacted Hewiss clients to undermine his business and encouraged his followers to join in with the abuse. Alex Belfield, who now runs a YouTube channel, stalked his victims by harassing them online. 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 . Articles by Alex Belfield on Muck Rack. Its like an avalanche of hatred that you get hit by., Vine didnt think he had ever even met Belfield, but another former BBC radio presenter, James Hazell, remembers Vine delivering a masterclass to local BBC presenters in 2010. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 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. He was convicted Friday, August 5, 2022, on four counts of stalking. Alex Belfield, 42, who "weaponised the internet", . That is why I say your stalking is in many respects more serious than a conventional stalker, the judge 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. Full statement on legal action & police inquiry BBC Bernie Keith / Bernard Spedding & Ben Hewis. Each of them suffered a campaign of harassment by email and social media communications. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. alex belfield wife name. Fans, largely older women, were often in the public gallery to show support. Green says she is deeply disappointed that the BBC did not commission an independent inquiry. I couldn't destroy the gift of life that they (his parents) gave me.'. When sentencing Belfield, Mr Justice Saini told him: 'Your offences are so serious, only a custodial sentence can be justified.'. He has been contacted 5 times to remove his outrageous claims. "I will never be able to work out why it has happened to me.". Alex Belfield arrives at Nottingham crown court in July for the trial in which he was accused of stalking. 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. 2023 BBC. 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. Belfield has worked for over 80 radio stations in the UK. 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. 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. A security company had also been brought in to collect him from the radio station's car park, Mr Keith said. 'My initial reaction (to the alleged stalking) was ''He's gone mad'',' Mr Keith said. 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. 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. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. alex belfield wife name. The final two victims who went to court and testified against Belfield were both from the theatre world. Bernard Spedding ignored every single correspondence. More videos coming soon.. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The judge said Belfield "bombarded" Mr Spedding - who had previously been friends with Belfield - with Facebook messages and emails, and made "highly abusive" YouTube videos containing false allegations. Former BBC radio personality Alex Belfield, 42, is also a vlogger from Nottinghamshire. That all stopped in February this year when YouTube suspended monetisation on Belfields Voice of Reason for violating its creator policy, after. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "He had to ask his family to watch out for you and to take care in and around their home address.". Mr Vine labelled him "the Jimmy Savile of trolling" during the trial which heard he repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails. 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. Even after YouTube stopped him making money from his channel, Belfield was still reasonably flush. xRn0+|L)%^RKXoZi;;0AQnKF. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 2023 BBC. "My initial reaction [to the stalking] was 'He's gone mad'," Mr Spedding told the trial. Toggle primary navigation. 15:33, 16 SEP 2022. He loved and hated showbusiness, and if he couldnt be you, hed have you, and be part of you, another way. Labour MP Barry Sheerman is calling for an independent inquiry into how the BBC treated female staff who were harassed online by Belfield. 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. hbbd```b``"H %&jv`8Z`` Hy |AAg%@ !CI
You are entitled to hold and express views but you are not entitled to destroy the personal lives of your victims through online harassment.. I had gone to the police to make it stop and it was just getting worse. 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. 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. Heres the facts on what happened. 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. YouTuber Alex Belfield is planning to appeal against his prison sentence for stalking four men online. Mr Justice Saini had sentenced Belfield to two-and-a-half years for stalking one of the complainants, Bernie Keith. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. Would they ever truly be able to escape the man Vine described as an Olympic-level stalker? 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'. I pleaded with him (Belfield) to stop. 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. 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. On this page you will find important information about Human Potential Consultants based in Carson, CA, like the address, contact person and details, as well as the email address 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". 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.''. Radio Presenter Age And Net Worth. Prosecutors allege that Alex Belfield caused alarm and distress to eight victims after his contract with BBC Radio Leeds was not renewed in 2011. . Read about our approach to external linking. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. "He was seconds away from taking his own life as a result of your conduct," the judge, Mr Justice Saini, told Belfield. "He had no escape from you," the judge told Belfield. I pleaded with him [Belfield] to stop. Regardless, the judge clearly considered him a threat. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. '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'. The stalking of Mr Keith caused him serious alarm or distress. READ MORE:Jury's verdicts delivered in stalking trial of ex-BBC presenter Alex Belfield. Others were their boss, Rozina Breen, and Ms Breen's boss Helen Thomas. Read about our approach to external linking. 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! 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. 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. (The person to be protected does not have to have been the victim of the acts mentioned above. The author identified himself in the screen-grab published by Hewis. Belfield clearly resented being there, recalls Hazell He was sulking and had a face like thunder. Member of the public 'donates' hand grenade to D-Day museum Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. 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. Vine said it is very, very important that the BBC learn lessons from what happened to the women at BBC Leeds. "You made this highly successful and confident radio presenter lose all joy in life and turned him into a shell.". Silence was the best policy in the eyes of the corporation. Ben Hewis refuses to communicate with Nottingham Police. Alex Belfield, who now runs a YouTube channel, stalked his victims by harassing them online. 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 judge made restraining orders in relation to all of the complainants, including those Belfield was not convicted of stalking. He warned Belfield he needed to be "extra careful about your online communications" as he adjourned the case. ', After describing how he had considered taking his own life, he told the jury: 'I just couldn't do it. She has asked the BBC to commission an independent investigation into what happened. As well as jailing Belfield, Mr Justice Saini issued indefinite restraining orders banning the DJ from contacting his victims. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Collaborations. Bernie confirms on air 'they' think he's "bonkers & loony toons". The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Alex Belfield was born in . One of the BBC targets was Bernie Keith, a veteran presenter at BBC Radio Northampton who was once Belfield's friend. y 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. Apparently jealous that Keiths BBC career carried on while his own was stymied, Belfield set about trying to ruin Keiths life using his usual weapons of YouTube, Twitter and emails. Repeating a libel is not a defense in court. 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. 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. 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. 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. One day, Green says she found a talented young producer crying in the toilets after being shouted at by Belfield. 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. But some of the complainants feel they never really got justice. hb```6Ad`0p The post was shared shortly before 3pm on Friday, March 3, and has already had more than 200 responses. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? 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. Mr Vine also gave evidence against Belfield during the trial, as he said: "This . Instead of a lawyer, he was often accompanied by James Brandon, a member of the old-school comedy duo the Grumbleweeds.