Ex-footballer Joey Barton guilty over 'grossly offensive' X posts

Former footballer Joey Barton has been found guilty of six counts of sending "grossly offensive" social media posts aimed at broadcaster Jeremy Vine and television pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.

Barton, 43, compared Aluko and Ward to the serial killer couple Fred and Rose West, and called Vine a "bike nonce" in posts sent between January and March 2024.

Jurors at Liverpool Crown Court accepted the prosecution's argument that Barton, from Huyton in Merseyside, had "crossed the line between free speech and a crime".

But they cleared the ex-Manchester City and Newcastle player of six other counts of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

Judge Andrew Menary KC warned Barton about wearing a scarf printed with a British flag in the dock as a "stunt", and told the former footballer's legal team he would not be permitted to wear it when he is sentenced on 8 December.

He was reminded his bail conditions prohibit him from mentioning the three victims in any way before that hearing.

During his trial Barton argued he was the victim of a "political prosecution" and that his comments aimed at football pundits Aluko and Ward were simply "dark and stupid humour".

He said he had been "trying to make a serious point in a provocative way".

Barton also claimed his posts about Vine were "crude banter" and said he had never intended to imply the radio presenter was a paedophile.

Jurors cleared Barton on a charge relating to a post containing a mock apology to Aluko for comparing her to Rose West.

Barton's post went on to say: "She's clearly in the Joseph Stalin/Pol Pot category.

"She's murdered hundreds of thousands if not millions of football fan's [sic] ears, in the last few years."