Justice Served: Joey Barton Found Guilty of Offensive Social Media Posts

Football pundit Eni Aluko expressed her relief, stating she was “glad justice has been served,” after former England player Joey Barton was found guilty of sending “grossly offensive” social media posts targeting her and fellow broadcasters.

In early 2024, Barton made comparisons between Aluko and commentator Lucy Ward to notorious serial killers Fred and Rose West, and referred to Jeremy Vine as a “bike nonce.” Prosecutors at Liverpool Crown Court argued that Barton had “crossed the line between free speech and a crime.”

Following Barton’s conviction, Aluko, who is also a qualified lawyer, issued a statement highlighting the toxic nature of social media: “This is a reminder that actions online do not come without consequences. The messages directed at me, Lucy Ward, and Jeremy Vine by Joey Barton were deeply distressing and had a real damaging impact on my life and career. I am glad that justice has been served.”

Barton, 43, was convicted on six counts of sending grossly offensive social media posts while being acquitted on an additional six counts. He is scheduled for sentencing on December 8. Following the verdict, Ward described Barton’s posts as constituting “continuous harassment,” affirming that “freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.”

The incident occurred during ITV’s coverage of an FA Cup match in January 2024 when Barton suggested that the pundits resembled the infamous serial killers. He even superimposed their faces on a photograph of the Wests, who committed heinous crimes between 1967 and 1987.

Although jurors found Barton not guilty of comparing Aluko to 20th-century dictators such as Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot, they deemed the superimposed image grossly offensive. Additionally, Barton was convicted for comments insinuating that Aluko’s presence in football commentary was merely a result of diversity initiatives, dismissively attributing her success to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Claiming his posts about Vine were intended as “crude banter,” Barton defended his use of the term “bike nonce,” stating he never meant to imply that Vine was a paedophile. However, he was convicted for suggesting that Vine had visited “Epstein island,” referencing the notorious billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, and for a post that urged people to call the authorities if they saw Vine near a primary school.

The former footballer has 2.6 million followers on social media, and his messages have drawn widespread criticism. Both Aluko and Vine have emphasized the emotional toll that Barton’s statements have had on their lives, making clear that the consequences of online actions can be significant.