THE BBC has made payouts to four female ex-staff harassed online for 11 years by a former radio presenter.
Hosts Liz Green and Stephanie Hirst and editorial chiefs Helen Thomas and Rozina Breen were said to have been left with “serious mental health problems”.
All were targeted by ex-Radio Leeds presenter Alex Belfield— jailed for 5½ years in 2022 for harassing four other staff, including Jeremy Vine.
He was cleared of stalking the women but the judge issued restraining orders covering all eight complainants.
Yesterday, the BBC admitted not doing enough to protect the women, who have received settlements.
It said: “People who work for the BBC are often in the public eye and under scrutiny however, it is unacceptable for anyone to be the target of sustained abuse in the way that Rozina Breen, Elizabeth Green, Stephanie Hirst and Helen Thomas were over a number of years.
“The BBC cares deeply about the welfare of its staff and we recognise that before 2019 we simply didn’t do enough for these members of staff in understanding the full impact that Alex Belfield’s unacceptable behaviour had on them.
“For that we are deeply sorry and offer a full and unreserved apology.”
Bully Belfield, 44, of Mapperley, Notts is set for release this June.
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