General view inside the stadium during the pre-season friendly match between Newcastle United and Atletico Madrid at St James' Park on August 09, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)placeholder image
General view inside the stadium during the pre-season friendly match between Newcastle United and Atletico Madrid at St James' Park on August 09, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Joey Barton is set to be sentenced on December 8 after being found guilty of grossly offensive social media post.
Joey Barton has been found guilty on six counts of grossly offensive social media posts at Liverpool Crown Court.
Former Newcastle United midfielder Barton - who spent four years at St James’ Park from 2007 to 2011 - likened football pundits Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West. He also labelled daytime television presenter Jeremy Vine a “bike nonce” in posts sent between January and March 2024.
Jurors also cleared Barton of a further six posts - which included a sarcastic apology to Aluko that likened her to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Social media posts on X that delivered a conviction included a comment that Aluko was “only there to tick boxes”.
On Vine, Barton suggested he had visited “Epstein island” - a reference to the deceased US paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The former midfielder told the court that his posts were merely “dark and stupid” humour.
Joey Barton branded a ‘bully’
Prosecutor Peter Wright KC told the jury that Barton had crossed the line "by some considerable margin relating to free speech. He called the 43-year-old a “bully” for using his platform of over 2.7 million followers to demean others.
Barton had already been fined £110,000 after being sued by Vine in a libel case last year. The ex-midfielder - who earned his sole England cap against Spain in 2007 - will be sentenced on December 8.
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Eni Aluko statement
In a statement released after the guilty verdict, Aluko welcomed the “justice” and insisted Barton’s words should never have come without consequences. A post read: "Social media is a cesspit where too many people feel they can say things to others they wouldn't dream of saying in real life under the guise of freedom of speech.
"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."
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