Barton spared prison for toxic posts designed to cause distress

JOEY Barton had his bags packed when he arrived at court but he was spared jail for sending grossly offensive social media posts.

- BY KIM PILLING

The ex-footballer got a six-month suspended sentence for posts directed at football pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko and broadcaster Jeremy Vine.

He published an image with Ms Ward and Ms Aluko's faces on the bodies of serial killers Fred and Rose West, and insinuated Mr Vine was a paedophile.

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Menary KC told Barton: "Robust debate, satire, mockery and even crude language may fall within permissible free speech. But when posts deliberately target individuals with vilifying comparisons to serial killers or false insinuations of paedophilia, designed to humiliate and distress, they forfeit their protection.

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