Alex Belfield was jailed for five and a half years for stalking four people, including Jeremy Vine
A former BBC radio presenter in jail for stalking has been banned from contacting two more people.
Alex Belfield, 43, who is serving a five-and-a-half year sentence for harassing four people online, including broadcaster Jeremy Vine, was made the subject of a stalking protection order.
He is banned from attempting to contact Greg Scott, a man he sent a tweet to, and his wife Karen.
He may also not publish, or attempt to, material relating to them.
Belfield, originally from Mapperley in Nottingham, appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court via video link from HMP Stocken, Rutland.
He was charged with stalking eight different people, who were mostly current or former BBC staff.
He was convicted of stalking BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernard Spedding, known as Bernie Keith, and videographer Ben Hewis.
In relation to 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.
Belfield was found not guilty of stalking Rozina Breen, Liz Green, Helen Thomas and Stephanie Hirst.
Vine told BBC Two’s Newsnight that Belfield had taken him to a “really unhealthy place”
Neither Mr or Ms Scott were involved in the trial, in which Vine labelled Belfield “the Jimmy Savile of trolling” as the court heard he repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails.
It is not clear how Belfield first came into contact with the couple.
Addressing the court, Belfield said: “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 Sunil 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.
Image source, Nottinghamshire Police
Belfield was a presenter at BBC Radio Leeds before running his own YouTube channel
He also made an order requiring Belfield to pay costs after barrister Christopher Pembridge said the case, which has been ongoing for three years, had 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, representing Belfield, said his client should not shoulder substantial costs as his ability to work following his release from prison would be limited.
“[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,” he said.
“It is very much up in the air and will depend on what happens upon his release eventually.”
Belfield was ordered to pay £403.
Image source, PA
Belfield made videos throughout his trial and posted them on YouTube
At Belfield’s sentencing in September, the judge made restraining orders in relation to all of the complainants, including those he was not convicted of stalking.
Det Con Janet Percival, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “It’s been a long hard slog, but we’ve now managed to secure these significant orders which will provide peace of mind for these two victims who were caused genuine alarm and distress by Belfield.
“I understand that people can be reluctant to contact us – sometimes because they aren’t sure that what’s happening is serious enough to warrant police action, and sometimes because they feel we won’t be able to help – but I can assure them that we will take their reports seriously and we will do whatever we can to help and protect them.”
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