2 weeks ago
14
Former footballer Joey Barton has been convicted of sending grossly offensive social media posts about broadcaster Jeremy Vine and TV football pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.
A jury at Liverpool Crown Court found Barton, 43, had 'crossed the line between free speech and a crime' with six posts he made on X, formerly Twitter.
He was cleared of six other counts that he sent a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety between January and March 2024.
Today, the jury was told Barton is 'an undiluted, unapologetic bully' and not 'the free speech crusader he paints himself to be, before being sent out to consider their verdicts.
Far from being a 'martyr' sacrificed 'on the altar of political correctness', the ex-Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder 'simply descended into behaviour that was worthy only of the gutter', according to prosecutors.
Joey Barton has been found guilty of six counts of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety
Barton, 43, was on trial accused of 12 counts of posting 'grossly offensive' tweets about women football commentators Lucy Ward (right) and Eni Aluko and also broadcaster Jeremy Vine (left)
Prosecutors claimed that the tweets - in which Barton compared Ward and Aluko to serial killers Fred and Rose West and labelled Mr Vine 'a bike nonce' - were intended to cause distress and anxiety.
But before the jury retired, Barton's barrister told them that being able to say things which are 'hurtful, offensive and in bad taste' was a price worth paying to preserve the 'cherished' right to free speech.
Prosecutor Peter Wright KC told the jury in his closing speech that Barton was not on trial for using words that are considered simply to be offensive.
'He is on trial because on each of those occasions he crossed the line,' he said. 'He crossed the line by some considerable margin and he did it again and again.
More to follow.
