Joey Barton Sentencing: Social Media Posts Case

Ian Shoesmith
BBC North West

During his recent trial, Joey Barton argued he was the victim of a “political prosecution” and that his comments aimed at football pundits Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward were simply “dark and stupid humour”.

He said he had been “trying to make a serious point in a provocative way”.

Barton, who has 2.7 million followers on X, also claimed his posts about Vine were merely “crude banter” and that in using the phrase “bike nonce” he had never intended to imply the radio presenter was a paedophile.