December 9 – Former Premier League midfielder Joey Barton has received a six-month suspended prison sentence and must complete 200 hours of community service for what a judge described as “humiliating” social media attacks on commentators Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko, as well as broadcaster Jeremy Vine.
The 43-year-old’s sentence is suspended for 18 months. He must also pay £23,419 in prosecution costs and is bound by three restraining orders preventing him from referring to Ward, Aluko or Vine on social media or any other broadcast platform.
The verdict followed a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where Barton was found guilty by a jury on six of 12 charges of sending grossly offensive electronic communications intended to cause distress or anxiety to his 2.6 million followers between January and March last year. Two counts were deemed racially motivated. Barton had denied all charges.
The posts included comparing Ward and Aluko to the serial killers Fred and Rose West. When Vine defended them, Barton called him a slang term for a paedophile and wrote that he would call the police if he saw Vine cycling near a primary school.
Barton’s lawyer, Simon Csoka, told the court his client had “shown a substantial amount of insight relating to his behaviour and also a substantial amount of contrition.” He said Barton has “learned from this experience and learned the damage words can do.” The restraining orders, Csoka added, will “serve as a constant reminder to him about going too far on social media.”
Statements from Ward and Aluko detailed the impact of the abuse. Ward wrote that the posts had tainted “the joy I once felt in my career,” adding that she now feels “exposed and vulnerable.” Aluko called Barton’s comments “the most abhorrent and extreme criticism I have ever received in my life,” saying she felt “humiliated, given that millions of people have seen the posts.”
Judge Andrew Menary said: “In terms of aggravating factors, I am satisfied that the offences against Ms Aluko were aggravated by hostility based on race.”
Speaking to the BBC after leaving court, the ex-Manchester City and Newcastle player, who also had a spell as a manager and pundit, said: “If I could turn back the clock I would. I never meant to hurt anyone. It was a joke that got out of hand.” He added: “Nobody wants to go to jail.”