Joey Barton guilty social media abuse female pundits
Former footballer and manager Joey Barton, aged 43, has been found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court on six counts of sending grossly offensive electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety. The jury accepted that his posts on the social-media platform X (formerly Twitter), made between January and March 2024, had crossed the boundary of lawful free speech and entered criminal territory.
The posts targeted female football pundits Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, as well as broadcaster Jeremy Vine. In one instance, Barton compared Aluko and Ward to the notorious serial killers Fred and Rose West, and superimposed their faces onto an image of the Wests. He also accused Aluko of being “only there to tick boxes” and dismissed diversity and inclusion efforts as “a load of sh*t”. In messages directed at Vine, Barton insinuated paedophilia by calling him a “bike nonce”, asking whether he had been to “Epstein Island”, and stating, “If you see this fella by a primary school call 999.”
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that Barton faced 12 charges of sending grossly offensive communications; the jury found him guilty on six counts and not guilty on six others. His sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2025. Until then, bail conditions prevent him from contacting or mentioning the victims.
In a statement after the verdict, Eni Aluko said the posts were “deeply distressing” and had a damaging impact on her life and career. She also noted that her television work in the UK had diminished in the period since the comments were made.
This case underscores the growing scrutiny of online harassment and the legal consequences for social-media abuse aimed at journalists and broadcasters.
