Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. Required fields are marked *. You made communications which had serious impacts on the private lives of the complainants, with distressing effects on their mental and physical health. Full statement on legal action & police inquiry BBC Bernie Keith / Bernard Spedding & Ben Hewis. The fact we were left unsupported from the acts of someone regarded as a prolific, now convicted, stalker is problematic. Living on the edge (literally! Mr Justice Saini said Belfield's campaign of harassment had left Mr Keith just seconds away from dying by suicide. Ben Hewis intended to destroy my life, reputation and career. Articles by Alex Belfield on Muck Rack. 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. Regardless, the judge clearly considered him a threat. 'In April last year I collapsed at my home and had to be taken to hospital. Alex Belfield repeatedly posted abusive social media messages after his BBC contract wasn't renewed (Picture: PA) . 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". His voice breaking with emotion, Mr Keith added: 'That removes the hope from my life that I will ever be free of this man. 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. Former BBC radio personality Alex Belfield, 42, is also a vlogger from Nottinghamshire. Heres Celebrity Radios BBC Bernie Keith & Ben Hewis STATEMENT. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left feeling suicidal by a "tsunami of hate", the trial heard. Green still works for the BBC but is trying to negotiate a settlement to leave. Breen left this summer to become editor-in-chief at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. 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. His anti-BBC stance soon attracted prominent support: Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen appeared on his shows and last year wrote to Priti Patel, then home secretary, to complain about what he called a BBC witch-hunt against Belfield, after one of his arrests. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? Corporate Lawfare and Stalking. 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". 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. He realised what he could do and did it with impunity. 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. Both had come to the defence of others under attack by Belfield. "My initial reaction [to the stalking] was 'He's gone mad'," Mr Spedding told the trial. Member of the public 'donates' hand grenade to D-Day museum Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. 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. 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. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He had never gone near anyone, he insisted, and was not accused of threatening any violence. 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. For each of these offences he was sentenced to 13 weeks, also to run consecutively. Ben Hewis refuses to engage with the police and hand over the email. BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith was left suicidal by a "tsunami of hate", the trial was also told. 'I had this naked hate being piled on me every day and I had to be funny and I had to entertain people. "Although you at no stage committed any physical acts, Mr Vine considered himself and his family to be at risk from you and his followers," the judge told Belfield. Mr Vine labelled him "the Jimmy Savile of trolling" during the trial which heard he repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails. He also agreed with Mr Vines characterisation that the ex-DJ had weaponised the internet against those he targeted. A few weeks after he was sent to jail, most of the 7,000-plus videos Belfield posted on YouTube are still publicly accessible. Alex Belfield is currently in prison after being convicted of stalking four men, Belfield made videos throughout his trial and posted them on YouTube. All Rights Reserved. December is a busy month. But on August 5, 2022 he was found guilty of "simple stalking" regarding Vine and blogger Philip Dehany. Alex Belfields online harassment made life misery for BBC presenters Jeremy Vine, Liz Green and many others. 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 . Neither had ever met him. alex belfield wife namemr patel neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 . 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. 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. It didnt work. Though the BBC knew Belfield was spreading lies about them in public, at no point did anyone from the BBC refute the allegations, she says. A former BBC radio presenter has been found guilty of stalking four people including broadcaster Jeremy Vine. Bernie confirms on air 'they' think he's "bonkers & loony toons". Vine said it is very, very important that the BBC learn lessons from what happened to the women at BBC Leeds. He soon made it to the top of Belfields hitlist, featuring regularly as a hate figure in his videos and social media posts. The Guardian asked Bridgen if he regretted supporting Belfield and did not receive a response. hWmo8+}(fI0He&[%@bwYsun!-Q$m>|(c #*fD((B+AH"9hn@*bJM
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@C!|D@F;= 4`EwsivT! 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. A-list trainer shares the ultimate do's and don'ts of workout etiquette - revealing why you should NEVER use a metal water bottle, Trump collaborates with January 6 prison choir in release of new single 'Justice for All' - which dropped ahead of his CPAC appearance, King Charles will offer Prince Harry and Meghan a Buckingham Palace apartment when they visit UK after kicking them out of Frogmore Cottage. . I live in fear and I have done for a long time, she says. 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.". 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. Prosecutors allege that Alex Belfield caused alarm and distress to eight victims after his contract with BBC Radio Leeds was not renewed in 2011. . Your email address will not be published. For just over three minutes, the 42-year-old delivered a monologue in which he said he was in prison for simply defending himself. It could be interpreted as a reluctance to expose systemic failings and a complete failure in duty of care. Im clearly of more risk to this country than a man who is attracted to children, he deadpanned. It was classic Belfield. Finally, respite from what for some had been a decade of near-constant abuse. Something went wrong, please try again later. This is the Jimmy Savile of trolling., Likening watching Belfields videos to swimming in sewage, Mr Vine said of the defendants 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., Jurors convicted Belfield of four charges committed between 2012 and 2021. 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. - a disco for people who want to dance to songs they know from backalong but have nowhere to go. Thank you for your patience. 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. 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. Alex Belfield arriving for his trial at Nottingham Crown Court (Image: PA) An award-winning broadcaster has told a court she was devastated by a "completely transphobic" video posted online by an ex-BBC Radio DJ accused of stalking former colleagues and TV star Jeremy Vine. "Despite four women not securing guilty verdicts, today's custodial sentences are a welcome relief," she wrote. 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. 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. He has also been convicted of stalking Bernie Keith and videographer Ben Hewis. 'The counselling didn't work for me - I had never had counselling before and I found it very difficult, very alien.'. Alex Belfield, 42, who "weaponised the internet", . Bernie Keith confirms he's mentally ill and in therapy March 2020. 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. All prove they have absolutely no understanding of the law. Mr Spedding, who is known as Bernie Keith, and videographer Ben Hewis. Here's Celebrity Radio's BBC Bernie Keith & Ben Hewis STATEMENTFull statement on legal action & police inquiry - BBC Bernie Keith / Bernard Spedding & Ben Hewis . I had gone to the police to make it stop and it was just getting worse. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Alex Belfield is a 42-year-old former BBC radio star and vlogger who hails from Nottinghamshire. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. After 6 months the BBC REFUSE to defend Bernie Keith and deny he sent it after 100+ emails. MP seeks inquiry over BBC staff harassed online, Harassed women accuse BBC of failing to help them, The stalker who reported on his own trial, My jailed stalker says he'll be back - Jeremy Vine, 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. Moslimin, unser einzig logische weiters beste arabische & muslimische Online dating-, Ehe- und Freundschaftsseite ihr Erde Selbige Moslimin-Webseite fur jedes Relationships weiters Hochzeit wird hinein mehreren Sprachen zuganglich unter anderem hundred% kostenlos Unter unserer Seite Moslimin wird parece nun erdenklich, Ihren zukunftigen Ehemann und Ihre zukunftige Angetraute inside mehreren . Breen sacked him on the spot, but agreed to honour the last two months of his contract. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. The post was shared shortly before 3pm on Friday, March 3, and has already had more than 200 responses. "This was the darkest point of my life because there was no end to it. Read about our approach to external linking. Jeremy Vine arriving at Nottingham Crown Court in July. 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. Official YouTube stats show that www . Also speaking during the trial, describing watching Belfields video output as like swimming in sewage, Mr Vine said: 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.. Recommended Ex-BBC DJ guilty of stalking Jeremy Vine during 'vile' hate campaign Belfield, 42, showed no emotion as the verdicts were delivered. I am offensive My human right allows me to speak words that are not to everyones taste, he told the jury. There are lessons to learn clearly and the toxic nature of online hate will only get worse for staff. 27 febrero, 2023 . 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. 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. "Alex Belfield's conduct, in the form of messages, broadcasts, insults and threats, left his victims fearful and anxious. 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". Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. The BBC turned a blind eye to the abuse, says Green: We were not heard. In September 1997, he began his career as part of the launch team of Radio 106. 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'. Hewis encouraged an entire industry to block me.over lies he endorsed! One of the complainants was his former colleague, Liz Green, who also presented a show at the radio station. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. I hope you take some time to consider Bernie Keith's statement. In December 2011, Belfield made his debut on BBC Radio 2 with Jimmy Savile's "last in-depth interview", recorded at Savile's Leeds home in February that year. 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. 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 . His last company, Champagne Sippers, incorporated in December 2020, has never filed company accounts. I pleaded with him (Belfield) to stop. Close Belfield-watchers believe his lurch to the right was a business decision rather than an ideological one. After stopping the counselling after three sessions Mr Keith said he also spoke to a specialist who helped stalking victims. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. All of the people who liked and re-tweeted Hewis libel will be called as witnesses. 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. 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. Our community guidelines prohibit content that threatens individuals and we have removed several videos for violating these policies.. 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. He loved and hated showbusiness, and if he couldnt be you, hed have you, and be part of you, another way. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. 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.. Mr Justice Saini had sentenced Belfield to two-and-a-half years for stalking one of the complainants, Bernie Keith. Alex Belfield has been jailed on four stalking charges (Picture: SWNS / PA) . 1. Who is Alex Belfield and why has he been jailed? If you are watching this, I have been sent to jail, intoned Belfield in his Steve Wright meets Alan Partridge boom, standing in front of a skewwhiff union jack in the living room of his Nottingham home, wearing one of his trademark jazzy shirts. 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. He told the jury he was seconds away from killing himself. 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. "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. Read about our approach to external linking. Judge Saini jailed Belfield for five years and 26 weeks, accusing him of having weaponised the internet to haunt his targets. 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. If you can help with mounting legal costs please email alex@alexbelfield.co.uk, Uploaded by Alex Belfield at Celebrity Radio 13th March 2020. 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. 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'. xRn0+|L)%^RKXoZi;;0AQnKF. BBC & RPC lawyers refuse to deny BBC DJ Bernard Spedding / Bernie Keith wrote email. hen Alex Belfield was sent to prison for five and a half years last month for online stalking, his accusers cried with relief. Bernie Keith confirms hes mentally ill and in therapy March 2020. At first, he grew his audience with silly sketches and phone-ins, railing against government Covid policy, particularly the ban on care-home visits. 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. 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. 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. A few months in, alarm bells started to ring, remembers Liz Green, who presented the lunchtime show that followed Belfields each day. Belfield soon became obsessed with ruining Hewiss professional and personal life. Ben Hewis is a videographer who works in the theatre and wedding industries and Philip Dehany was a rival theatre blogger. He soon made enemies in the theatre world, says a director who started monitoring his online activities a few years ago (and who wishes to remain anonymous). 'My reputation is now in shreds because all of this has been seen throughout my industry and the wider population. Refuses to deny he wrote the email. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? The optics arent good, says Breen. The judge made restraining orders on the four victims: Bernard Spedding (also known as Bernie Keith), Ben Hewis, Philip Dehany and Jeremy Vine. 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.