Ex-footballer Joey Barton guilty of posting grossly offensive messages on social media

Joey Barton has been found guilty of posting grossly offensive messages on social media.

Barton was found guilty by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court of six counts of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

During his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the ex-Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder, 43, said he believed he was the victim of a "political prosecution" and denied his aim was "to get clicks and promote himself".

But the jury decided Barton, who also played for England in 2007, had "crossed the line between free speech and a crime" with six posts he made on X.

The prosecution argued his comments on the platform, where he boasts more than two million followers, "may well be characterised as cutting, caustic, controversial and forthright".

Peter Wright KC continued: "Everyone is entitled to express views that are all of those things.

"What someone is not entitled to do is to post communications electronically that are - applying those standards - beyond the pale of what is tolerable in society."

Barton, of Widnes, Cheshire, denied 12 counts of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety between January and March last year.

On six counts he was found guilty, but on another six he was cleared.

Barton wore a scarf patterned with the Union flag as the verdicts were returned.

Addressing him, the honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary KC, said: "He has chosen to adorn himself with a particular flag which I suppose is a stunt to make a point.

"He will not be permitted to do that on the sentencing date."

In one post on X, in January 2024, Barton compared football commentators Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko to the "Fred and Rose West of football commentary", and superimposed the women's faces on a photograph of the serial murderers.

He also described Aluko as being in the "Joseph Stalin/Pol Pot category", suggesting that she had "murdered hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of football fans' ears".

Read more:
Barton insults left Eni Aluko 'scared to go out'
Barton says women 'not qualified' to speak on men's football

The jury found him not guilty in relation to the comparison with the Wests, and Stalin and Pol Pot, but decided the superimposed image was grossly offensive.

Another message allegedly suggested Jeremy Vine had a sexual interest in children after the broadcaster posted a question, relating to the posts about the football commentators, asking whether Barton had a "brain injury".

Vine told the jury he felt "wickedly torn down for no reason" after the posts.

Describing the episode in court, he said: "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."

The ex-footballer told the court the posts were "dark and stupid humour" and "crude banter". He also said he had no intention of implying Vine was a paedophile.

But in his closing speech to the jury, Peter Wright KC dismissed his defence.

He said: "Mr Barton is not the victim here. He is not the free speech crusader that he would like to paint himself to be.

"He is not some martyr to be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.

"He is just simply an undiluted, unapologetic bully - a little bully who takes pleasure sitting there with his phone in his hand and then posting these slurs."

In a statement, Aluko said social media was a "cesspit" where "too many people feel they can say things to others they wouldn't dream of saying in real life under the guise of freedom of speech".

"This is a reminder that actions online do not come without consequences," she said.

"The messages directed at me, Lucy Ward and Jeremy Vine by Joey Barton were deeply distressing and had a real damaging impact on my life and career. I am glad that justice has been served."

(c) Sky News 2025: Ex-footballer Joey Barton guilty of posting grossly offensive messages on social m