Barton is hit with £203k libel battle bill

JOEY Barton must pay more than £200,000 of presenter Jeremy Vine’s legal costs after their High Court libel battle, a court has heard.

- By Callum Parke

It came after BBC Radio 2 host Vine, 60, sued the ex-footballer and manager, 42, for libel and harassment over online posts.

In one, Barton falsely called Vine a “big bike nonce” and a “pedo defender”.

The pair settled last year after Barton posted two apologies and paid a total of £110,000 in damages to Vine, plus his legal costs.