'Grossly offensive' posts by Barton crossed the line, jury hears

FORMER footballer and Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton “crossed the line between free speech and a crime” with social media posts about broadcaster Jeremy Vine and female television pundits Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, a jury has heard.

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Barton, 43, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of 12 counts of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

‘The charges arise out of a series of posts made in January and March last year on social media site X, formerly Twitter.