Joey Barton, the former footballer, has been convicted of assault by beating for pushing his wife to the ground and kicking her in the head. The incident occurred during a drunken argument in June 2021 at their home in Kew, south-west London. Barton, who was 42 years old at the time, assaulted his wife Georgia Barton, 38, while they were with two other couples as their children slept upstairs.
At the time of the assault, Barton was managing Bristol Rovers and subsequently received a 12-week suspended prison sentence. His wife sustained injuries including a lump on her forehead and a bleeding nose, prompting her to call the police immediately after the attack. Despite initially retracting her allegations against him, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring rejected Barton’s version of events, describing them as “vague” and emphasizing his history of violence. However, Goldspring decided against an immediate custodial sentence due to the couple’s seemingly happy relationship with a young child.
Following the sentencing, Barton expressed his disappointment with the verdict and announced his intention to appeal the decision at the High Court. The prosecution argued that Mrs. Barton’s 999 call to the police and her injuries provided compelling evidence against Barton. Despite his denial of any physical altercation, Barton was arrested at their home while still heavily intoxicated. The case had initially been adjourned after Mrs. Barton retracted her allegations in a letter, prompting concerns about the fairness of the trial.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) successfully appealed for the case to proceed to trial at the High Court, where Barton was ordered to pay £2,183 in victim surcharge and prosecution costs within a week. The decision highlighted the seriousness of the assault and the need for justice to be served. Barton’s future legal proceedings will unfold in front of a new judge, ensuring a fair trial process for all parties involved
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