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Former professional footballer Joey Barton has received a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of posting offensive messages on social media targeting broadcaster Jeremy Vine and football commentators Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko. The jury at Liverpool Crown Court convicted Barton, 43, of sending grossly offensive electronic communications with the intent to cause distress or anxiety. The case centered on six posts made on the platform X between January and March 2024, in which Barton compared Ward and Aluko to notorious serial killers Fred and Rose West and labeled Vine with offensive slurs.
Barton, originally from Huyton, Merseyside, was sentenced to six months in custody, suspended for 18 months. Additionally, Judge Andrew Menary KC, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, mandated that Barton complete 200 hours of unpaid community work and pay costs exceeding £20,000. The case stemmed from a controversial incident following an FA Cup match in January 2024 between Crystal Palace and Everton when Barton made inflammatory posts that included superimposed images of the commentators’ faces onto photos of the serial killers. Upon leaving court, Barton expressed regret, stating, “If I could turn back the clock I would. I never meant to hurt anyone. It was a joke that got out of hand. Nobody wants to go to jail.”
Throughout the trial, Barton—who has a following of 2.7 million people on X—frequently referred to Vine with derogatory language, even encouraging others to report him to the police. Although cleared of six additional counts alleging grossly offensive communication, the jury found the superimposed image to be grossly offensive. Barton, who also has experience managing Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers football clubs, testified that he believed the prosecution was politically motivated and denied any intention to seek publicity through his posts.
In sentencing remarks, Judge Menary highlighted the distinction between acceptable free speech—such as satire or robust debate—and targeted abuse designed to humiliate. He emphasized that Barton’s posts crossed the line into deliberate harm and constituted a sustained campaign of online harassment. While acknowledging that imprisonment was warranted, the judge suspended the sentence, noting Barton’s recent efforts to moderate his behavior. Restraining orders preventing Barton from referencing the victims on social media or broadcasts were also imposed for two years. The police remarked that the case should serve as a warning to others who use social media to spread abusive or hateful material, stressing the potential consequences of violating the strict conditions attached to Barton’s sentence.
The victims spoke about the profound effects of the abuse. Jeremy Vine stated, “I’m happy the case is over. Joey Barton has been made to pay a lot for his disgusting lies and abuse, but I fear he’ll keep offending until the day he dies.” In his victim impact statement, Vine described Barton’s actions as deeply traumatic and damaging to his reputation, labeling Barton as someone who “feeds off the pain of others.” Lucy Ward expressed that the posts were “irresponsible” and “hateful,” causing her to live in fear not only of Barton but also of those he incited against her. She revealed that the relentless harassment led her to question her self-worth. Eni Aluko described the comments as “abhorrent” and the worst criticism she had ever encountered, forcing her to increase her personal security. She shared how the malicious comparisons left her feeling humiliated and afraid to leave her home, resulting in canceled engagements and lost earnings
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