Former BBC local radio DJ Alex Belfield has been jailed for five years and 26 weeks at Nottingham Crown Court after being convicted of four stalking charges against broadcasters including Jeremy Vine.
The 42 year old was found guilty after his trial last month of waging a relentless stalking campaign against broadcasters, with the Channel 5 presenter subjected to an “avalanche of hatred”.
Vine previously labelled Belfield “the Jimmy Savile of trolling” during a trial which heard he repeatedly posted or sent a number of abusive messages, videos and emails.
Jurors agreed Belfield caused serious alarm or distress to two victims and was found guilty of “simple” stalking in relation to Mr Vine and theatre blogger Philip Dehany.
(Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
The trial also heard BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a “tsunami of hate”.
Mr Vine gave evidence against Belfield and said: “This is not a regular troll here. This is the Jimmy Savile of trolling.”
Offering further insight into Belfield’s video output while describing is as like swimming in sewage, Mr Vine also said of the defendant’s conduct: “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.”
(Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
Belfield has been charged of four charges committed between 2012 and 2021. The judge has also made restraining orders on the four victims.
Thes sentences for each charge Belfield was convicted on are as follows:
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.
(Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
Count 6: Videographer Ben Hewis, found guilty of stalking to cause alarm and distress – the sentence is consecutive to the previous term for the stalking of Mr Keith. 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.
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.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
