Barton's Posts Scared Me, Commentator Ward Tells Jury

TV shot commentator Lucy Ward has told a assemblage societal media posts from Joey Barton near her "intimidated" and "physically scared".

Former Manchester City subordinate Mr Barton is alleged to person "crossed nan statement betwixt free reside and a crime" pinch messages connected X astir Ms Ward, chap shot pundit Eni Aluko and broadcaster Jeremy Vine.

Mr Barton, 43, who has 2.7m followers connected nan platform, is connected proceedings astatine Liverpool Crown Court accused of 12 counts of sending a grossly violative physics connection pinch intent to origin distress aliases worry which he denies.

In January 2024, he likened Ms Aluko and Ms Ward to nan "Fred and Rose West of shot commentary" aft a televised FA Cup tie.

Giving evidence, Ms Ward said she "knew he would get to maine astatine 1 point" because of Mr Barton's wide viewpoint he did not for illustration women commenting connected men's football.

Asked by charismatic Peter Wright KC really she felt astir nan post, she said: "Intimidated. It was very unpleasant to beryllium nan taxable of someone's abuse.

"I'm trying to do my job. I americium 1 of nan fewer females doing it and I person already crossed complete a batch of barriers. It's reliable to do your occupation pinch that happening.

"Fred and Rose West tortured, sexually abused and killed children, truthful I couldn't really activity retired why I was being called that. At first it was very, very harsh but past evidently it continued.

"It was getting to nan shape now wherever I sewage a small scared, physically frightened really. It was a continuous harassment, what I would telephone bullying.

"I felt susceptible going to games."

Mr Barton, from Widnes, Cheshire, later posted an image of her look and Ms Aluko's superimposed connected to a photograph of nan Wests.

Ms Ward, who played women's shot for Leeds United and later became their caput of acquisition and use earlier her existent 20-year broadcasting career, told nan court: "I conscionable thought this is going to detonate successful a really antagonistic way.

"I'm successful nan nationalist eye, I'm ever astatine games and nan insinuation pinch 2 group who tortured, sexually abused and killed children is not personification you want to beryllium compared with."

Simon Csoka KC, defending, said: "So acold arsenic being capable to connection your ain expertise connected nan men's game, you tin only do that if you were successful nan men's game?"

Ms Ward said: "Not necessarily. Football is football.

"You don't person to person done it if you cognize what you are talking about."

Mr Csoka said: "There is simply a immense quality betwixt nan men's and women's game."

Ms Ward said, to laughter successful nan court: "Yes, nan women triumph things."

Mr Csoka said: "You understand what would beryllium meant by nan look 'he aliases she is murdering nan commentary'?"

Ms Ward said: "Yes, it's not very pleasant."

Mr Csoka said: "But you understood what was being said?"

"Yes," replied Ms Ward.

Mr Csoka said: "Similarly pinch nan photograph of your look and Eni Aluko's look superimposed connected nan image of Fred and Rose West - evidently not pleasant - but you understand what that affinity was?"

Ms Ward said: "I deliberation unless you person been connected nan receiving extremity of it. It's horrific."

The tribunal later heard Ms Aluko was "astounded" by nan station from Mr Barton comparing her to nan Wests, aft nan brace had antecedently exchanged "friendly, supportive" backstage messages.

The erstwhile England women's world footballer, who played for Chelsea and Juventus, said they swapped messages betwixt 2017 and 2020.

"I would person expected, if he did person a remark to make astir my punditry, he would possibly connection maine and opportunity so. But nan truth he did that publically suggests it was malicious and was intended to get arsenic overmuch attraction arsenic possible, and each astatine a clip erstwhile he was promoting a podcast," she said.

She told nan tribunal his posts astir her near her "devastated", adding "for astir a week I couldn't time off my house" pinch her emotion "completely intimidated and depressed".

Mr Barton denies nan alleged offences said to person been committed betwixt January and March past year.

The proceedings continues.