Barton tells court that he's the 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”.

- COURT REPORTER

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”.

Barton is then said to have called Vine a paedophile 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.

The prosecutor said: “You have got these views on women and their role with men’s football, and they were strongly expressed by you.”

“Yes,” said Barton.

Mr Wright said: “And if someone challenges you on that you double down.”

Barton said: “No, I defend my position.”