Jeremy Vine’s ex-BBC DJ stalker found guilty after being dubbed ‘Jimmy Savile of trolling’
Former BBC DJ, Alex Belfield, 42, has been found guilty of waging a stalking campaign against broadcasters and subjecting TV presenter Jeremy Vine to an “avalanche of hatred”. When Mr Vine gave evidence last month, he branded Belfield “the Jimmy Savile of trolling” and said he repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails.
Belfield was found guilty of “simple” stalking, which prosecutor John McGuinness described as “more akin to internet trolling”, when jurors accepted that he caused serious alarm or distress to Jeremy Vine and theatre blogger Philip Dehany.
The trial also heard that BBC Radio Northampton presenter, Bernie Keith, was left feeling suicidal by a “tsunami of hate”.
When giving evidence, Jeremy Vine told jurors: “This is not a regular troll here. This is the Jimmy Savile of trolling.”
Describing how Belfield’s actions made him feel, the Channel 5 presenter continued: “It felt like I had a fish hook in my face and my flesh was being torn, and the only way to avoid further pain was to stay completely still.”
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“The stalking which this case is concerned with is of a different type – and is more akin to 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 it was that he was saying about them.
“But he went ahead and he did it anyway, the prosecution says, relentlessly harassing them, knowing or being aware he was harassing them – to the extent that what he did caused them serious alarm or distress which affected their daily lives for the worse.”
Belfield was granted bail and will be sentenced on September 16.
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