Former BBC DJ Alex Belfield has been jailed after he was found guilty of waging a relentless stalking campaign against BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith, and subjecting TV presenter Jeremy Vine to an "avalanche of hatred". 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.
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. Belfield was described as a broadcaster who has worked in the media all his life.
He started out as a broadcast assistant on local radio and then became a radio presenter himself. In more recent years, he has set up his own channel on YouTube. He was convicted of 4 charges - two were alternatives of "simple stalking".
READ MORE: Jury's verdicts delivered in stalking trial of ex-BBC presenter Alex Belfield
Appearing at the same court for sentencing on Friday (September 16), Belfield was given a total of five years and 26 weeks in prison, of which he will serve half, on all four charges he was convicted of. The judge has made restraining orders on the four victims.
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. 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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