EX-BBC DJ guilty of stalking broadcasters faces prison

A FORMER BBC DJ has been warned he faces jail after being found guilty of waging a relentless stalking campaign against broadcasters and subjecting presenter Jeremy Vine to an “avalanche of hatred”.

Alex Belfield was labelled “the Jimmy Savile of trolling” during a trial which heard he repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails.

Jurors accepted Belfield caused serious alarm or distress to two victims and was found guilty of “simple” stalking in relation to Vine, the Channel 5 and BBC Radio 2 presenter, and theatre blogger Philip Dehany.

Bernie Keith, a BBC Radio Northampton presenter, was left feeling suicidal by a “tsunami of hate”, the trial heard.

Vine also gave evidence against Belfield, telling jurors: “This is not a regular troll here. This is the Jimmy Savile of trolling.”

Describing watching Belfield’s video output as like swimming in sewage, Mr Vine said of the defendant’s conduct: “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.”

Jurors at Nottingham Crown Court deliberated for 14 hours and 27 minutes before convicting Belfield of four charges yesterday.

Belfield, 42, of Mapperley, Nottingham, showed no emotion and wrote notes on a piece of paper as he was found guilty of committing the offences between 2012 and 2021.

The trial judge, Mr Justice Saini, said: “There’s a good chance of a custodial sentence.”

Belfield was granted bail and will be sentenced on Sept 16.