"The Jimmy Savile of trolling" Alex Belfield, a former BBC radio presenter and vlogger has been hit with another court order banning contact with a married couple. Belfield was jailed last September 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".
The 43-year-old was jailed for five years and 26 weeks. On Thursday (June 1) Belfield, of Shaldon Close in Mapperley, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court, via video link from HMP Stocken in Rutland, East Midlands.
District Judge Sunil Khanna made a stalking protection order preventing him from contacting a man he had sent a tweet to and his wife. The order prevents Belfield from contacting or attempting to contact Greg Scott or his wife Karen Scott, or publish or attempt to publish any material relating to them.
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Neither Mr or Mrs Scott were involved in last year’s trial, in which TV and radio host Mr Vine labelled Belfield “the Jimmy Savile of trolling” - as the court heard he repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails.
How Belfield first came into contact with the Scott's was not mentioned in court this morning.
YouTuber Belfield, who was wearing a tracksuit top and a green T-shirt and sat at a desk making notes during the brief hearing, addressed the court to say: “I have never met, gone near or ever contacted Karen Scott or done anything other than replying to Greg Scott. I just want to make that clear.”
District Judge Khanna said he was satisfied there was a need for the order to protect from stalking - and warned Belfield he could face further jail time if he breached it. He also made an order requiring Belfield to pay costs after barrister Christopher Pembridge said the case, which has been ongoing for three years, has cost police £20,000.
Mr Pembridge said it would be “unjust” for Belfield to pay the full costs, but asked the judge to consider an appropriate amount. David Aubrey KC, acting for Belfield, argued that he would not be able to shoulder substantial costs because his ability to work after his release from prison would be limited and he could face a further civil case.
He said: “(Belfield) is in prison and on the question of his earning capacity when he comes out of prison, there could be restrictions on what work he could do. It is very much up in the air and will depend on what happens upon his release eventually.”
District Judge Khanna ordered Belfield to pay £403.
Belfield was convicted of the "simple stalking" of journalist Jeremy Vine, who had described the stalking as being "Olympic level" even for broadcast, during his evidence. Mr Vine teared up at one point at the trial of Belfield as he spoke of what had allegedly happened to him, and even described it as "the Jimmy Savile of trolling". "It felt like I had a fish hook placed in my face and my flesh was being torn".
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 was sentenced to 13 weeks consecutively for stalking Mr Vine.
* Belfield was found not guilty 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 BBC executive Helen Thomas.
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