Joey Barton Found Guilty of Sending Offensive Social Media Posts

Joey Barton, a former professional footballer, has been found guilty on six counts of sending “grossly offensive” social media posts targeting broadcaster Jeremy Vine and television pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.

The 43-year-old Barton, hailing from Huyton in Merseyside, made alarming comparisons between Aluko and Ward and the notorious serial killers Fred and Rose West. He also referred to Vine as a “bike nonce” in messages sent between January and March 2024.

Jurors at Liverpool Crown Court accepted the prosecution’s assertion that Barton had transcended the boundaries of free speech into the realm of criminality. However, he was acquitted on six additional counts related to sending offensive electronic communications intended to cause distress or anxiety.

Judge Andrew Menary KC admonished Barton for wearing a scarf emblazoned with the British flag in the courtroom, deeming it a “stunt.” He has been instructed that this garment will not be permitted during his sentencing, set for December 8.

Barton has also been reminded that his bail conditions prohibit any mention of his three victims prior to the upcoming hearing.

Throughout the trial, Barton argued that he was the target of a “political prosecution,” asserting that his comments directed at pundits Aluko and Ward were merely examples of “dark and stupid humour.” He maintained that he was attempting to make a serious point in a provocative manner.

With a following of 2.7 million on X, Barton characterized his comments about Vine as “crude banter,” claiming that the term “bike nonce” was never meant to suggest that the radio presenter was a paedophile.

The jury acquitted Barton of a charge regarding a post containing a mock apology to Aluko for the comparison to Rose West, in which he had stated, “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.”

However, he was convicted for a post asserting that ITV pundit Aluko was “only there to tick boxes,” referencing the influence of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Barton was cleared of allegations that he labeled Ward and Aluko as the “Fred and Rose West of football commentary” following an FA Cup match between Crystal Palace and Everton in January 2024. Nevertheless, he was found guilty for another post that superimposed their faces onto a photo of the serial killers.

In addition, he faced conviction for suggesting that Vine had visited “Epstein island,” a reference to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and for a post stating, “If you see this fella by a primary school, call 999.”

In his closing arguments, prosecutor Peter Wright KC emphasized that Barton had crossed societal norms by a significant margin. He described Barton not as a victim but rather as “a little bully” who finds pleasure in posting derogatory comments online.

Judge Menary clarified to the jury that the term “grossly offensive” in the charges necessitated a high standard for conviction. He elucidated that criminal law does not punish merely bad manners or unpopular opinions but intervenes when content is deemed extreme, degrading, or dehumanizing to the extent that society would agree it crosses a line.

Barton has been released on bail, and Judge Menary has ordered a pre-sentence report to be compiled, cautioning him against posting any further content on social media in relation to the case prior to sentencing.