Barton Guilty Over 'grossly Offensive' X Posts

Former footballer Joey Barton has been recovered blameworthy of six counts of sending "grossly offensive" societal media posts directed astatine broadcaster Jeremy Vine and tv pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.

Barton, 43, compared Aluko and Ward to nan serial slayer mates Fred and Rose West, and called Vine a "bike nonce" successful posts sent betwixt January and March 2024.

Jurors astatine Liverpool Crown Court accepted nan prosecution's statement that Barton had "crossed nan statement betwixt free reside and a crime" connected six counts.

But they cleared nan ex-Manchester City, Everton and Newcastle midfielder of six different counts of sending a grossly violative physics connection pinch intent to origin distress aliases anxiety.

Judge Andrew Menary KC warned Barton astir wearing a scarf printed pinch a British emblem successful nan dock arsenic a "stunt", and told his ineligible squad he would not beryllium permitted to deterioration it during his sentencing proceeding connected 8 December.

He was reminded his bail conditions prohibit him from mentioning nan 3 victims successful immoderate measurement earlier he is sentenced.