A former BBC radio presenter waged a 9 yr “marketing campaign of harassment” in opposition to former colleagues together with Jeremy Vine after being axed from his mid-morning present, a courtroom has heard.
Alex Belfield, 42, is accused of stalking eight members of BBC employees after bosses didn’t renew his contract at BBC Radio Leeds in 2011.
He bombarded presenters, editors and different colleagues with vile emails, tweets and messages, in addition to importing movies to his YouTube channel, jurors had been instructed.
Belfield left BBC Radio 2 star Vine “distressed” and struggling to eat and sleep, the courtroom heard.
Jurors had been instructed Belfield accused the Channel 5 presenter of stealing BBC licence charge cash in a string of abusive tweets and Youtube movies.
He additionally branded Vine “scum-sucking pond life” and provided to pay folks to harass him, it was claimed.
A courtroom additionally heard Belfield branded his managing editor an “odious vile girl” and a “spineless weasel”, whereas additionally making “sickening, misogynistic and transphobic” remarks.
His actions had been stated to have brought about his victims “severe alarm and misery” which impacted their every day lives as a result of “ferocious and relentless” abuse.
Belfield, of Mapperley, Nottingham, went on trial Tuesday at Nottingham Crown Court docket accused of eight counts of stalking.
He may very well be seen smirking and nodding within the dock as among the messages he was alleged to have despatched had been learn out to the courtroom.
Opening the case, prosecutor John McGuinness QC stated Belfield had made a string of “distressing and gratuitous” allegations in opposition to his former workmates.
He stated: “There are eight counts of stalking which the defendant is charged with – every referring to a special particular person.”
The stalking on this case shouldn’t be the bodily type, he instructed the courtroom, however “extra akin to trolling”.
“The alleged victims didn’t wish to be contacted by Alex Belfield, they didn’t wish to see or hear or know what it was that he was saying about them. However he went forward and did it anyway, relentlessly harassing them, understanding or being conscious he was harassing them – to the extent that what he did brought about them severe alarm or misery which affected their every day lives for the more serious.”
Jeremy Vine was focused by Belfield
(PA)
The courtroom was instructed the primary offences passed off throughout Belfield’s time at BBC Radio Leeds throughout his one yr stint there between 2010 and 2011.
Mr McGuinness added: “Throughout this time he offered the mid-morning radio present on the station.
“His fast boss was Rozina Breen, and one other broadcaster, Liz Inexperienced, offered a chat present slot that adopted instantly after Alex Belfield’s present.
“There have been numerous points through the time that Alex Belfield was employed on the BBC, which led to the involvement of Breen’s personal superior, Helen Thomas, who was the managing editor.
“In early 2011, it was determined that Alex Belfield’s mounted time period contract wouldn’t be renewed.
“After leaving the BBC, Alex Belfield introduced additional claims.
“A declare in opposition to Rozina Breen alleging that she had bullied and harassed him – however he didn’t pursue this declare to a listening to and was ordered to pay Rozina Breen’s prices.
“A declare in opposition to the BBC arising out of the ending of his contract of employment – this declare was resolved on the idea that the BBC wouldn’t implement the sooner prices declare.
“He additionally made an inside grievance to the BBC Belief referring to the conduct of Rozina Breen and and Helen Thomas, which the BBC investigated – however once more that got here to nothing.
“Two gadgets of proof display how long-running Alex Belfield’s marketing campaign has been in opposition to all three.
“On January 22, 2020 – nearly 9 years after Alex Belfield left the BBC he continued to take nice pleasure in vilifying them to a public viewers.
“He referred to as Helen Thomas an ‘odious vile girl, ‘essentially the most spineless weasel’ he had ever met in radio, ‘promoted for failure’ and ‘a very sickening girl’.
“Intermittently over a interval of about 9 years after Alex Belfield left the BBC, he has made distressing and gratuitous allegations in opposition to all of them in offensive and hurtful phrases.
“Helen Thomas stated her on a regular basis life was affected. She dreaded turning on her pc in case there was an e mail from Alex Belfield.
“She felt she was consistently below a microscope. She says she coped by shutting down her emotions about him.”
One other BBC Leeds presenter Stephanie Hurst was topic to “sickening, misogynistic and transphobic” remarks in opposition to her, the courtroom was instructed.
“Bernie Keith Spedding [BBC Northampton presenter] has drastically decreased his social media presence. He describes Alex Belfield’s lies as having a devastating impact. He has had safety features added to his house tackle.”
Belfield, who’s representing himself and now broadcasts on YouTube, denies the costs.
The trial continues.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
