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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jun/01/ex-bbc-presenter-jailed-stalking-appears-in-court-again-alex-belfield
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| Ex-BBC presenter who was jailed for stalking appears in court again | Ex-BBC presenter who was jailed for stalking appears in court again |
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| Alex Belfield is banned from contacting two more people after previous ‘campaign of abuse’ against broadcasters | Alex Belfield is banned from contacting two more people after previous ‘campaign of abuse’ against broadcasters |
| A former BBC local radio presenter who was jailed for stalking broadcasters including Jeremy Vine has appeared in court again as he was banned from contacting two more people. | A former BBC local radio presenter who was jailed for stalking broadcasters including Jeremy Vine has appeared in court again as he was banned from contacting two more people. |
| The YouTuber Alex Belfield, 43, was jailed for five years and 26 weeks in September 2022 after being found guilty of waging a campaign against four people including the BBC Radio 2 presenter. | |
| Belfield appeared at Nottingham magistrates court via video link from HMP Stocken in Rutland, east Midlands, on Thursday as the district judge Sunil Khanna made a stalking protection order preventing him from contacting a man he had sent a tweet to and his wife. | Belfield appeared at Nottingham magistrates court via video link from HMP Stocken in Rutland, east Midlands, on Thursday as the district judge Sunil Khanna made a stalking protection order preventing him from contacting a man he had sent a tweet to and his wife. |
| The order prevents Belfield, previously of Mapperley in Nottingham, from contacting or attempting to contact Greg Scott or his wife, Karen Scott, or from publishing or attempting to publish any material relating to them. | The order prevents Belfield, previously of Mapperley in Nottingham, from contacting or attempting to contact Greg Scott or his wife, Karen Scott, or from publishing or attempting to publish any material relating to them. |
| Neither Mr nor Mrs Scott were involved in last year’s trial, in which Vine labelled Belfield “the Jimmy Savile of trolling” as the court heard he had repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails. | Neither Mr nor Mrs Scott were involved in last year’s trial, in which Vine labelled Belfield “the Jimmy Savile of trolling” as the court heard he had repeatedly posted or sent abusive messages, videos and emails. |
| How Belfield had first come into contact with the pair was not mentioned in court. | How Belfield had first come into contact with the pair was not mentioned in court. |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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. | 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 the barrister Christopher Pembridge said the case, which has been going on for three years, has cost police £20,000. | He also made an order requiring Belfield to pay costs after the barrister Christopher Pembridge said the case, which has been going on for three years, has cost police £20,000. |
| Pembridge said it would be “unjust” for Belfield to pay the full costs, but asked the judge to consider an appropriate amount. | 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. | |
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| 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.” | 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.” |
| Khanna ordered Belfield to pay £403. | 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, the former BBC Radio Leeds presenters Liz Green and Stephanie Hirst, and the BBC executive Helen Thomas. |