The former radio presenter, who presented on BBC Radio Leeds, was branded “the Jimmy Savile of trolling” during a trial which heard he repeatedly uploaded or sent abusive messages, videos and emails. Jurors at Nottingham Crown Court accepted that Belfield caused serious alarm or distress to two victims and was found guilty of “simple stalking” in relation to Channel 5 and BBC Radio 2 presenter Mr Vine and theater blogger Philip Dehaney. Mr Vine also gave evidence against Belfield, telling jurors: “He’s not a normal troll here. This is the Jimmy Savile of trolling.” Describing watching Belfield’s footage as like swimming in sewage, Mr Vine said: ‘It felt like I had a fish hook in my face and my flesh was being ripped apart and the only way to avoid further pain was to stay completely still. ». Jurors convicted the YouTube host, who in recent years created a channel known as Celebrity Radio, after deliberating for 14 hours and 27 minutes. The 42-year-old was also found guilty of stalking BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith and videographer Ben Hewis. Image: Belfield convicted of ‘simple’ stalking over Jeremy Vine Belfield told the court he had been the victim of “bullying” and a “witch hunt” by other broadcasters after exercising his free speech rights in communications with the complainants. Opening the Crown case last month, prosecutor John McGuinness QC said Vine had been “constantly bombarded” with harassing tweets and YouTube videos in 2020. The presenter, the court heard, faced a wave of abuse online after making false and completely unfounded claims about the alleged theft of £1,000. Belfield is said to have developed a “dislike, almost hatred” for Mr Vine after the BBC donated the sum to a memorial fund set up to honor a friend of the broadcaster. Giving evidence, Mr Vine said: “I found it shocking and disturbing and it made me worry. In the past I had a physical stalker who followed me around. “That’s a picnic compared to this guy. It’s like an avalanche of hate hitting you.” Belfield was found not guilty of stalking charges in relation to former BBC North chief Rozina Breen, former BBC Radio Leeds presenters Liz Green and Stephanie Hirst and former BBC worker Helen Thomas. Mr McGuinness told the court: “There is no indication that the defendant’s conduct involved physical stalking … although such was the effect of what Alex Belfield did that some people were actually concerned about the possibility of Mr Belfield turning up in their homes . “The stalking that this case deals with is of a different type – and more like internet trolling. “The alleged victims did not want to be contacted by Alex Belfield, they did not want to see or hear or know what he was saying about them. “But he went ahead and did it anyway, the prosecution says, harassing them relentlessly, knowing or knowing he was harassing them – to the extent that what he did caused them serious concern or distress that affected their daily lives for the worse. “ He was granted bail and will be sentenced on September 16.
