2 days ago
EXCLUSIVE Ex BBC DJ branded 'Jimmy Savile of trolling' after tormenting Jeremy Vine and driving another victim to the brink of suicide is freed early from prison
A former BBC DJ who was branded the ' Jimmy Savile of trolling' by his talking victim Jeremy Vine has been released early from behind bars.
Alex Belfield was jailed for five years in September 2022, after he waged a relentless stalking campaign against the Radio 2 host as well as other broadcasters.
Vine described the ex BBC Radio Leeds DJ the 'Jimmy Saville of trolling' after being subjected 'an avalanche of hatred' by Belfield who repeatedly sent him abusive messages, videos and emails.
Belfield, of Mapperley, was convicted of stalking to cause alarm and distress to BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith, and guilty of the same charge concerning videographer Ben Hewis.
He was further found guilty of 'simple stalking' regarding theatre blogger Philip Dehany and to the 'simple stalking' of presenter and broadcaster Jeremy Vine.
The stalker's relentless campaign has also left Mr Keith feeling suicidal after receiving a 'tsunami of hate', as well as driving Mr Dehany to the brink of taking his own life.
In 2023, Belfield was agreed to pay 'substantial' damages to Vine for making 'false allegations of dishonesty' during his 'hurtful' campaign against the broadcaster.
However MailOnline can now reveal a beaming Belfield has been released from HMP Fosse Way in Leicester early, at around 11.20am.
Alex Belfield who was branded the ' Jimmy Savile of trolling' by his talking victim Jeremy Vine has been released early from behind bars
When asked if he had anything to say, he replied: 'Sadly I can't talk to you, but thank you very much. Gagged.'
He then unwrapped three pieces of black tape from around a pen and stuck them over his mouth.
Smiling Belfield carried a large black holdall containing his possessions, with a picture of US President Donald Trump above the words 'Never Surrender sellotaped to it.
Wearing a navy blue and white striped polo shirt, coupled with jeans, the former DJ also gripped onto a green leaflet bearing the words, 'What's next, through the gate support for you'.
After placing his holdall into the boot of a waiting taxi, Belfield produced a piece of paper with an image of Winston Churchill above his famous quote, 'Never, never, never, never give up'.
When asked questions about his current feelings, future plans or whether he had any comments of apologies for his victims, he responded with silence while shaking his head.
He responded only with, 'Thanks guys', before clambering into a taxi.
Prior to his early release, the stalker who dubbed himself a 'political prisoner' on his website, joked about crimes behind bars.
Wearing a navy blue and white striped polo shirt, coupled with jeans, the former DJ also gripped onto a green leaflet bearing the words, 'What's next, through the gate support for you'
He also appeared make further light of the ordeal, with a clock previously counting down until his released date also on the site.
Belfield was also promoting a tour for 'Voice of Reason' podcast, called the 'The Convicted Talker', seemingly as a pun regarding his stalking which was first reported by Nottinghamshrie Live.
His website also claimed he will be performing in pantomime in the winter of 2026, with a note below joking he will appear in 'Jack & The BeanStalker'.
A message at the top of the website reads: 'Thank you for stalking - Officially a political prisoner since 2023.'
It comes after a video was published on Belfield's YouTube channel announcing a birthday message was to be broadcast on January 14.
The video, which was deleted on January 3, was titled 'AI Alex Belfield Birthday Message 14/1 - BBC plot to close him down exposed'.
Belfield's YouTube channel regularly featured criticism of the BBC and the former employee of the corporation claimed he was jailed for speaking out about them.
However these allegations were dismissed during his sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court by the judge Mr Justice Saini, who said at the time: 'Your offences are so serious, only a custodial sentence can be justified.'
On his website, in which he describes himself as 'a political prisoner', Belfield appeared to make light of his crimes - and even has a clock counting down until his release date
He also said Belfield's motive was 'personal grudges and responses to real or apparent slights,' rather than to 'exercise his journalistic freedom to comments on matters of public interest.'
Mr Saini added: 'You are entitled to hold and express views but you are not entitled to destroy the personal lives of your victims through online harassment.'
During the criminal trial, Vine sobbed as he recalled how he had to install security cameras as he feared one of Belfield's 'disciples' would launch a knife or acid attack on him or his family.
It was also heard the former local DJ had made 24 references to Vine in his online content in one 14-day period, with the Radio 2 host forced to put a picture of Belfield in the hallway to warn his teenage daughter to be on guard in public.
As well as indefinite restraining orders being made in relation to the four people he was convicted of stalking, Belfield also had indefinite restraining orders imposed in relation to four women who he was cleared of stalking.
Belfield agreed to pay 'substantial' damages to Mr Vine in 2023 for making 'false allegations of dishonesty' in a separate civil legal action over his 'campaign of defamation and harassment'.
Gervase de Wilde, for Mr Vine, said Belfield had made 'entirely false' allegations in nine YouTube videos and eight tweets put online between May and August 2020.
This included the false claim that Mr Vine was 'seriously and demonstrably dishonest' because he had 'publicly and repeatedly lied' about his knowledge of the circumstances in which the BBC gave him £1,000 for a memorial event for radio executive John Myers.
Mr Myers, who died in June 2019, was one of Mr Vine's 'closest friends', the court was told.
Mr de Wilde said that as well as 'publishing defamatory allegations of dishonesty and theft', Belfield also sought to obtain 'private information concerning (Mr Vine)', including the phone numbers of family and friends, 'for the purposes of publishing and disclosing that information online'.
Belfield also encouraged members of the public to contact Mr Vine during his broadcasting work and during 'his day-to-day life', the court heard.
