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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Dan Warburton & Mia O'Hare

Jeremy Vine's jailed stalker Alex Belfield banned from contacting two more people

A former BBC local radio DJ who was branded the "Jimmy Savile of trolling" has been hit with a stalking protection order.

Alex Belfield, 43, was jailed for five years after being convicted of four stalking charges against broadcasters including Jeremy Vine.

He was found guilty after trial of stalking broadcasters, including TV's Jeremy Vine who was subjected to an "avalanche of hatred".

On Thursday he appeared in court again as he was banned from contacting two more people.

Belfield appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court via video link from HMP Stocken in Rutland, East Midlands.

District Judge Sunil Khanna made a stalking protection order preventing him from contacting a man he had sent a tweet to and his wife.

Jeremy Vine branded Belfield the 'Jimmy Savile of trolling' (Tom Maddick / SWNS)
Belfield was jailed for five years over four counts of stalking (Nottinghamshire Police / SWNS)

The order prevents Belfield, previously of Mapperley, in Nottingham, from contacting or attempting to contact Greg Scott or his wife Karen Scott, or publishing or attempting to publish any material relating to them.

Neither Mr or Mrs Scott were involved in last year's trial, in which TV and radio host Mr Vine labelled Belfield "the Jimmy Savile of trolling" as the court heard he repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails.

How Belfield first came into contact with the pair was not mentioned in court.

YouTuber Belfield, who was wearing a tracksuit top and a green T-shirt and sat at a desk making notes during the brief hearing, addressed the court to say: "I have never met, gone near or ever contacted Karen Scott or done anything other than replying to Greg Scott. I just want to make that clear."

District Judge Khanna said he was satisfied there was a need for the order to protect from stalking and warned Belfield he could face further jail time if he breached it.

He also made an order requiring Belfield to pay costs after barrister Christopher Pembridge said the case, which has been ongoing for three years, has cost police £20,000.

Mr Pembridge said it would be "unjust" for Belfield to pay the full costs, but asked the judge to consider an appropriate amount.

The former local radio DJ has been hit with a stalking protection order (PA)

David Aubrey KC, acting for Belfield, argued that he would not be able to shoulder substantial costs because his ability to work after his release from prison would be limited and he could face a further civil case.

He said: "(Belfield) is in prison and on the question of his earning capacity when he comes out of prison, there could be restrictions on what work he could do. It is very much up in the air and will depend on what happens upon his release eventually."

District Judge Khanna ordered Belfield to pay £403.

Last year Belfield was charged with stalking eight different people, who were mostly current or former BBC staff.

He was convicted of stalking BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernard Spedding, who is known as Bernie Keith, and videographer Ben Hewis.

In relation to Vine and theatre blogger Philip Dehany, Belfield was found guilty of two lesser offences of "simple" stalking, which does not require serious alarm or distress to be proved.

Belfield was found not guilty of stalking charges in relation to the BBC's former head of North Rozina Breen, former BBC Radio Leeds presenters Liz Green and Stephanie Hirst, and BBC executive Helen Thomas.

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