Joey Barton Found Guilty of Sending Grossly Offensive Messages

Former professional footballer and manager Joey Barton has been found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court for sending grossly offensive posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The court ruled that Barton, 43, had “crossed the line between free speech and committing a crime” through six specific posts aimed at broadcaster Jeremy Vine and football pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.

Details of the Case

Barton was accused of sending 12 offensive communications between January and March 2024. While the jury acquitted him on six of those charges, he was convicted on six counts. He was released on bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8.

Posts Directed at Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko

Following a televised FA Cup match in January 2024, Barton compared Ward and Aluko to serial killers Fred and Rose West. He also shared a manipulated image that superimposed their faces onto a picture of the Wests. The jury determined this post to be grossly offensive.

In another post, Barton compared Aluko to Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot, alleging she had “murdered millions of football fans’ ears.” He was acquitted of this charge; however, he was found guilty for a post claiming she was “only there to tick boxes,” adding derogatory comments about DEI, affirmative action, and referencing BLM/George Floyd.

Posts Directed at Jeremy Vine

Barton repeatedly referred to broadcaster Jeremy Vine as a “bike nonce” and implied he posed a danger to children. In one of the convicted posts, Barton wrote: “If you see this fella by a primary school call 999.” In another, he suggested Vine may have connections to Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs.

Three posts regarding Vine resulted in acquittal, but the remaining were ruled as criminal and grossly offensive.

Judge’s Remark and Court Setting

During the delivery of the verdict, Barton appeared in court wearing a Union Jack scarf. Judge Andrew Menary described it as a “stunt to make a point” and stated that Barton would not be permitted to wear similar items during sentencing.

Next Steps

Barton will return to court for sentencing on December 8. He continues to have a large following on social media, with over 2.7 million followers on X. The case has sparked renewed debate regarding freedom of expression, online harassment, and the legal limits of digital commentary.