Alex Belfield had repeatedly posted and sent mocking and abusive messages, videos and emails since 2012, a year after he stopped working at the BBC, Nottingham Crown Court heard. The 42-year-old has caused serious alarm or distress to eight victims, including Channel 5 and BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine, former BBC Radio Leeds presenter Stephanie Hirst and BBC Radio Northampton presenter Bernie Keith , prosecutors said. The court heard Mr Vine was “constantly bombarded” with harassing tweets and YouTube videos based on false claims about a £1,000 theft. Image: Former BBC presenter Alex Belfield takes a video as he arrives at Nottingham Crown Court Mr Belfield, from Mapperley, Nottingham, is said to have launched a “witch hunt” and developed a “dislike, almost hatred” against the broadcaster after the BBC donated the sum to a memorial fund to honor a friend. The court heard Mr Vine, who had no knowledge or awareness of Mr Belfield until 2020, had no idea the BBC had made a donation and “certainly didn’t steal it”. The broadcaster was also the subject of a “ridiculous” claim that he had “signed up his 10-year-old daughter as a company director”. Stephanie Hirst felt the behavior towards her was sickening, misogynistic and transphobic, while Bernie Keith installed extra security at the home as a result of the alleged stalking, the court heard. Mr McGuinness QC said although Alex Belfield’s behavior did not involve physical stalking … “some were, in fact, concerned about the possibility of Mr Belfield turning up in their homes”. Read more on Sky News: ‘Sadistic’ internet troll admits posting ‘sick’ comments about dead people on Facebook ‘Taking innocence from children’: Two-thirds of young people are exposed to harmful online content – but only 16% report it The court heard Mr Belfield, who recently launched a YouTube channel called Celebrity Radio, was “not ready to move on” after leaving the BBC and was not happy with being treated unfairly by his managers. Alex Belfield has denied 8 counts of stalking which allegedly took place between 2012 and 2021, including 3 counts relating to two managers who worked at BBC Radio Leeds. Mr McGuinness added: “He said the BBC had trained him legitimately but he was a whistleblower and a thorn in the side of the BBC.” The trial is ongoing and is expected to last several weeks.