former BBC Radio Leeds presenter released a relentless nine-12 months marketing campaign of stalking against 8 victims, including ex-colleagues and Tv set presenter Jeremy Vine, a court docket has listened to.
Nottingham Crown Courtroom was advised that Alex Belfield frequently posted or sent mocking and abusive social media messages, videos and emails right after his one-year deal was not renewed in 2011.
Prosecutors allege that the 42-yr-aged triggered severe alarm or distress to Channel 5 and BBC Radio 2 presenter Mr Vine, former BBC Radio Leeds mid-morning present host Stephanie Hirst, and BBC Radio Northampton’s Bernie Keith.
Opening the Crown’s case from Belfield, prosecutor John McGuinness QC said Mr Vine was subjected to a “constant bombardment” of harassing tweets and YouTube videos in 2020.
The presenter, the courtroom heard, faced a wave of abuse on-line following false and entirely baseless statements were being created relating to the intended theft of £1,000.
Belfield is reported to have formulated a “dislike, virtually hatred” of Mr Vine just after the BBC donated the sum to a memorial fund established up to honour a friend of the broadcaster.
The court docket listened to that Ms Hirst felt the carry out versus her had been sickening, misogynistic and transphobic, whilst Mr Keith mentioned the alleged stalking had a devastating impact and had prompted him to put in added household security.
Mr McGuinness explained to the court the offences alleged by the Crown commenced in November 2012 – a year following Belfield’s one particular-yr agreement at BBC Radio Leeds was not renewed.
The Crown allege that Belfield “wasn’t ready to go on” soon after leaving the BBC and turned disgruntled by what he perceived to be unfair treatment from his professionals.
Mr McGuinness informed the court docket: “It is not recommended the defendant’s carry out included physical stalking… despite the fact that this kind of was the impact of what Alex Belfield did that some had been, in truth, anxious about the chance of Mr Belfield turning up at their properties.
“The stalking which this scenario is anxious with is of a distinct sort – and is much more akin to web trolling.
The prosecution circumstance is that what Mr Belfield did with the 8 men and women named in the counts went beyond that which is authorized and grew to become stalking, which is a felony offence
“The alleged victims did not want to be contacted by Alex Belfield, they did not want to see or hear or know what it was that he was saying about them.
“But he went ahead and he did it in any case, the prosecution claims, relentlessly harassing them, knowing or getting aware he was harassing them – to the extent that what he did caused them severe alarm or distress which influenced their every day life for the worse.”
Mr McGuinness told the demo: “Everyone has the correct to express their opinion in the democratic society in which we all live.
“The prosecution case is that what Mr Belfield did with the 8 men and women named in the counts went over and above that which is permitted – and turned stalking, which is a felony offence.”
Addressing the certain depend relating to Belfield’s speak to with Mr Vine, Mr McGuinness mentioned: “Mr Vine had no know-how or awareness of Mr Belfield right until about April 2020.
“However, in the three months or so just after that, the prosecution suggests, Mr Vine was subjected to a regular bombardment of harassing tweets and YouTube films.”
Mr McGuinness informed the courtroom the Television set presenter experienced no notion that the BBC experienced even made a donation and “certainly did not steal it”.
Giving specifics of the “personal and unpleasant” abuse directed in direction of Mr Vine, the QC said it had included foul language and a “ludicrous” untrue claim that the broadcaster experienced “signed his 10-year-previous daughter up as a corporation director”.
The lies influenced Mr Vine’s perception of wellbeing and optimism, the courtroom was advised, and he was concerned at Belfield’s try to obtain non-public information and facts.
When Belfield was interviewed by the law enforcement, he instructed officers he was the issue of a witch hunt, the jury listened to.
Mr McGuinness advised the court: “He explained the BBC experienced legally trained him but he was a whistle-blower and a thorn in the BBC’s side.”
The court docket read that Belfield, of Mapperley, Nottingham, started out as a broadcast assistant on community radio and in new several years set up a YouTube channel recognised as Celeb Radio.
He denies 8 counts of stalking alleged to have been dedicated involving 2012 and 2021, together with a few counts relating to two supervisors and a further presenter who worked at BBC Radio Leeds.
The demo, which is predicted to final for various weeks, proceeds.
