Joey Barton’s Trial: Guilty Verdict on Offensive Communications

Joey Barton has faced trial at Liverpool Crown Court, charged with 12 counts of sending grossly offensive electronic communications intended to cause distress or anxiety in January 2024. On Friday, the jury convicted him of six counts related to offensive social media posts directed at Vine, Ward, and Aluko, while acquitting him of the other six charges.

On the day prior to the verdict, Barton testified that he did not intend for his comments about Vine to imply any accusations of paedophilia, describing his remarks as a “bad, dark, juvenile joke.” He characterized his statements about the broadcaster as merely a “wind-up.”

“I never meant to imply he was a paedophile. It was a bad, dark, juvenile joke,” Barton stated. “At no point did I intend to cause distress or anxiety or to jeopardize his life or that of his daughters. I don’t wish for anyone to feel unsafe; as a father myself, I find it hard to believe I am on trial for this. It’s just words on a social media platform.”

Barton went on to express his view that the prosecution was an overreach by the state. “In my opinion, this is the government trying to suppress me. This situation stems from an online dispute among celebrities. I believe this case has been heavily politicized.”

On Tuesday, former England international Aluko expressed her disbelief at Barton’s comparison of her to notorious serial killers, especially considering their past exchange of supportive messages.

“I was astounded because I had never met Joey Barton in person before. I genuinely appreciated his support during our communications between 2017 and 2020. Looking at those messages, one would assume we had a friendly rapport. That’s why I was so shocked by his comments comparing me to serial killers. If he had an issue with my punditry, I would have welcomed a private message. His public remarks seemed calculated to attract attention, especially as he was promoting a podcast at that time,” she remarked.

Furthermore, Vine stated on Wednesday that Barton’s comments made him feel “unsafe” and described the aftermath as a “cloud of filth” resulting from Barton’s words.

“It was severely vicious to juxtapose our faces with those of child murderers. I sought clarity and mentioned a brain injury to underscore my feelings on how he had crossed a line,” he explained in court. “I genuinely believe Barton’s actions put me at physical risk, prompting me to consult on security and alter my routine to avoid alarming my daughters. I had to discuss the implications of Barton’s remarks with them. In summary, I believe his messages endangered my safety.”

Judge Andrew Menary KC admonished Barton for wearing a scarf adorned with a British flag, labeling it a “stunt” and instructed him not to wear it again at his sentencing, scheduled for December 8. The judge also reminded Barton of his bail conditions, which prohibit him from mentioning the three victims prior to sentencing.