Joey Barton avoids jail for grossly offensive social media posts as ex-footballer issued strict guidance

The former Premier League star will also have to complete rehabilitation work and 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

None of the three victims will be awarded compensation in this case, the judge told the court.

Speaking on Aluko, Judge Andrew Menary KC: "This was a racially charged and sexist attack."

The former Manchester City player targeted his three victims on 12 occasions between early January and mid-March 2024.

Barton has a sizable following on the social media site X and expresses a variety of views, including disapproval of female commentators.

He called ITV football presenters, Ms Aluko and Ms Ward, "the Fred and Rose West of football commentary", comparing them to the two convicted serial killers.

ITV issued a statement following the comment, which said: "For Joey Barton, an ex-professional player, with a significant social media presence, to target two of our pundits, Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, with such vindictive remarks based on gender and to invoke the names of serial killers in doing so, is clearly contemptible and shameful on his part. Football is for everyone.”

Barton continued with the comments and posted a photo of the serial killers, adding "We've established they cannot take a joke and understand metaphors. So, I'll leave you with this."

In another post about Aluko, Barton said: “Only there to tick boxes. DEI is a load of s***. Affirmative action. All off the back of the BLM/George Floyd nonsense.”

Vine was dragged into the row after questioning Barton's state of mind, with the footballer writing: "Have you been on Epstein Island? Are you going to be on these flight logs? Might as well own up now because I’d phone the police if I saw you near a primary school on ya bike."

Barton also tweeted: “Oh @the JeremyVine Did you Rolf-aroo and Schofield go out on a tandem bike ride? You big bike nonce ya.”

He was convicted over two further tweets about Vine in which he referred to him as "bike nonce" and said: "If you see this fella by a primary school call 999,” and "Beware Man with Camera on his helmets cruising past primary schools. Call the Cops if spotted."

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges against Joey Barton for 12 counts of sending grossly offensive electronic communications with the intent to cause distress or anxiety.

He was found guilty of six of the 12 counts and not guilty of six by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court on November 7.

The former footballer was found guilty of two counts of sending grossly offensive communications to Ms Aluko and Ms Ward, and not guilty of three counts relating to them.

He was found guilty on four counts of sending grossly offensive messages to Jeremy Vine and not guilty on three counts relating to him.

Aluko described Barton's comments as “abhorrent and the most offensive criticism she has experienced in her life".

She added: "I remain deeply upset with the malicious comparison to serial killers and feel humiliated given that millions of people will have seen this comparison."

The football pundit claimed she was too scared to leave her house, leading to cancelled engagements and a loss of income.

She also believed that there was a racist element to the posts, in which the judge agreed.

Ward, in her victim impact statement, describes Barton's posts as "irresponsible" and "hateful".

She added: "I am now constantly afraid, not just of the defendant, but the people he has incited against me and his history only heightens my fear. This fear has seeped into every aspect of my life."

She says the "barrage of hate" has left her "questioning my own worth".

A legal representative for Barton's argued that the former player showed a substantial amount of insight into his behaviour and has also shown contrition, learning from this experience and "the damage words can do".

Simon Csoka told the court: "One of the characteristics of social media is that it can cause disinhibition and the perception that words don't really mean anything."

He added that Barton understands the restraining orders are there for "a good reason" and will serve as a constant reminder to him not to go too far on social media.

Prosecutor Philip Astery KC reminded the judge of Joey Barton's previous convictions, which included affray and battery, assault and assaulting his wife.

Judge Menary added that Barton will pay the prosecution's costs of more than £23,000.

Barton showed no sign of emotion during the sentencing.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter