TV and radio presenter Jeremy Vine has criticised social media companies in the wake of the jailing of a former BBC local radio presenter for stalking. Alex Belfield, 42, was last month found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court of waging a campaign against a number of figures from the broadcasting world, including Mr Vine.
On Friday he was jailed for five years and 26 weeks. Jurors accepted he caused serious alarm or distress to two victims and found him guilty of “simple” stalking in relation to Channel 5 and BBC Radio 2 presenter Mr Vine and theatre blogger Philip Dehany.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Mr Vine criticised platforms such as YouTube and Twitter, saying: “We had to get lawyers to get his s*** taken down, and even then it’s hard. The companies just say no. They don’t have any moral values.”
