Ex BBC presenter in prison for stalking, banned from contacting couple
Alex Belfield was jailed for five-and-a-half years last September
Last updated 1st Jun 2023
A former BBC local radio presenter who was jailed for stalking, has been banned from contacting two more people.
43-year-old Alex Belfield was given five years and 26 weeks in September 2022, after being found guilty of harassing four people online, including broadcaster Jeremy Vine.
Appearing via video link from HMP Stocken in Rutland, Belfield appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday and was given a stalking protection order stopping him from messaging Greg Scott or his wife, Karen.
The order also prevents Belfield, previously of Mapperley in Nottingham, from attempting to contact the couple, or publish or attempt 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.
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.
After a trial in August last year, 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.