‘I am a victim of political prosecution’

FORMER Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton has told a jury he believes he is the victim of a “political prosecution” and denied he sent alleged grossly offensive social media posts to “get clicks and promote himself”.

- KIM PILLING

(Joey Barton arrives at Liverpool Crown Court, and inset right, Jeremy Vine Peter Byrne)

Barton, 43, is said by the Crown to have “crossed the line between free speech and a crime” with tweets about broadcaster Jeremy Vine and female TV football pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.

Following a televised FA Cup tie in January 2024 between Crystal Palace and Everton he likened Ward and Aluko on a post on X, formerly Twitter, to the “Fred and Rose West of football commentary”.

The ex-Manchester City, Newcastle United and Marseille player is then said to have called Vine a pae-dophile in numerous posts after the TV and radio presenter sent a message querying whether Barton had a “brain injury”.

Cross-examined by prosecutor Peter Wright KC, Barton told Liverpool Crown Court he agreed he could be “hotheaded” and his professional career had been “punctuated” with occasions when he received bans from the Football Association.

Mr Wright said: “You had a reputation for violence on the football pitch during your playing career.”

Barton, said: “Yes. I was aggressive on the pitch.”