Joey Barton offensive tweets have led to a landmark guilty verdict. The former footballer and social media figure was found guilty by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court of six counts of sending grossly offensive electronic communications intended to cause distress or anxiety.
The 43-year-old ex-player was convicted for posts directed at TV pundits Lucy Ward, Eni Aluko, and broadcaster Jeremy Vine. The court ruled that Barton had crossed the line between free speech and criminal conduct through his use of social media platform X.
Prosecutors argued that Barton’s posts were not mere criticism but deliberate attempts to humiliate and cause harm. The jury agreed, convicting him on six counts while clearing him of six others related to messages sent between January and March 2024.
The trial centered on several inflammatory posts made following an FA Cup broadcast in January 2024. Barton compared Ward and Aluko to the “Fred and Rose West of football commentary” and suggested that Aluko was in the “Joseph Stalin or Pol Pot category” for allegedly “murdering football fans’ ears.”
While he was cleared of some comments, jurors found one particular post that included a superimposed image to be grossly offensive. Another post referencing diversity and the Black Lives Matter movement was also judged to be beyond acceptable limits.
The court heard that Barton repeatedly targeted journalist Jeremy Vine, labeling him a “bike nonce” and implying disturbing associations. One tweet suggested Vine might have been linked to the late Jeffrey Epstein, asking, “Have you been on Epstein Island?”
Barton was convicted over several of these posts, including one that mocked Vine alongside references to television figures Rolf Harris and Phillip Schofield. In one post, Barton told his followers to “call 999” if they saw Vine near a primary school.
With over 2.7 million followers on X, Barton’s online behavior has drawn both attention and criticism. During the court proceedings, he arrived wearing a Union Jack scarf, prompting the judge, Andrew Menary KC, to remark that such displays would not be tolerated during sentencing.
Barton remains free on bail and will be sentenced on December 8. His conviction marks a rare case where online speech has led to criminal punishment, reinforcing the growing seriousness with which digital abuse is treated by UK courts.
After the verdict, Eni Aluko released a public statement expressing relief and gratitude. She emphasized that the ruling sends a strong message about accountability on social media.
“Social media, especially X, has become a place where people hide behind screens to say things they would never say in real life,” she wrote. “This verdict shows that online harassment has real-world consequences. The posts directed at me, Lucy Ward, and Jeremy Vine caused real distress and harmed my career. Justice has been served.”
The Joey Barton offensive tweets case highlights how easily online expression can turn into criminal behavior. It also underscores the rising tension between free speech and accountability in the digital era. As Barton awaits sentencing, the verdict stands as a warning to public figures and ordinary users alike: words online can carry serious consequences.
