Former Premier League footballer Joey Barton has been found guilty of six counts of sending 'grossly offensive' social media posts at Liverpool Crown Court.
The ex-England star likened female football pundits Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward the “Fred and Rose West of football commentary” after a televised FA Cup tie in January 2024 between Crystal Palace and Everton on social media site X.
He went on to superimpose the faces of the two women onto a photograph of the serial murderers.
Another post also went on to say Aluko was in the “Joseph Stalin/Pol Pot category” as she had “murdered hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of football fans’ ears".
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A separate post also read: “Only there to tick boxes. DEI is a load of s***. Affirmative action. All off the back of the BLM/George Floyd nonsense”.
And another social media spat saw him embroiled in a war of words with TV presenter Jeremy Vine.
Joey Barton has been found guilty of 'offensive' social media posts
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An online argument saw Barton accuse Vine of being sexually interested in children after the BBC Radio 2 host accused the former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder of having a 'brain injury'.
On Thursday, Barton had told the court that he had been the victim of political persecution.
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Jeremy Vine was called a 'bike nonce' by Joey Barton on social media
|PA
He also insisted his paedophile joke about Vine was a "bad, dark, juvenile joke".
"It was not meant to call him a paedophile. It was a bad, dark, juvenile joke," he said.
"I have not at any point tried to cause distress or anxiety or risk his life or his daughters' lives.
"I don't want people to fear for their lives, I'm a dad.
"I cannot believe I'm on trial for this. Words on a social media site."
Vine, who was called a 'bike nonce' by Barton online, responded by saying: "This now gets really serious. He is accusing me of being a paedophile.
"These are disgusting actions. It's a despicable thing to say.
"It gravely upset me, and I had a sleepless night that night."
Football pundit Lucy Ward was also targeted by Joey Barton in a string of posts on X
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Barton will now wait until December 8 for a sentencing hearing and has been banned from mentioning any of Aluko, Ward or Vine until then as part of his bail conditions.
Judge Andrew Menary KC also warned Barton that he will not be allowed to wear a scarf with the Union Jack colours on it.
It comes after turning up to court wearing such a garment, something the judge described as a "publicity stunt".