At a glance
A judge has blasted former footballer Joey Barton for wearing a Union flag-patterned scarf as he was convicted of sending grossly offensive social media posts.
The Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary KC, noted that Barton was wearing the scarf, suspecting that he had worn it as “a stunt to make a point”.
The judge cautioned Barton that that he won’t be permitted to wear the item when he is sentenced for his crimes
Former footballer Joey Barton was blasted by a judge for wearing a Union flag-patterned scarf as he was convicted of sending grossly offensive social media posts.
A jury at Liverpool Crown Court found that the 43-year-old had “crossed the line between free speech and a crime” with six posts he made on X about broadcaster Jeremy Vine and TV football pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.
After the jury returned its verdicts, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary KC, noted that Barton was wearing the Union flag-patterned scarf.
He told the court: "He has chosen to adorn himself with a particular flag, which I suppose is a stunt to make a point. He will not be permitted to do that on the sentencing date."
Barton’s fashion choice comes amid growing debate about what the Union flag and St George’s flag represent, with many believing that it has become a “racist symbol”.
The flags have become a regular sight at protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, with many Britons also believing that raising the flag is a symbol of patriotism.
Giving evidence, Barton, who previously managed Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers, said he believed he was a victim of "political prosecution" and denied his aim was "to get clicks and promote himself".
Following a televised FA Cup tie in January 2024 between Crystal Palace and Everton, the ex-footballer had likened Ward and Aluko in a post on X to the "Fred and Rose West of football commentary".
He went on to superimpose the faces of the two women on to a photograph of the serial murderers.
Barton also tweeted Aluko was in the "Joseph Stalin/Pol Pot category" as that she had "murdered hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of football fans' ears".
Jurors found him not guilty on the Stalin/Pol Pot comparison, and also the commentary analogy with the Wests, but ruled the superimposed image was grossly offensive.
He was also convicted of a post in relation to Aluko in which he wrote "Only there to tick boxes. DEI is a load of shit. Affirmative action. All off the back of the BLM/George Floyd nonsense".
The former footballer put his posts about Ward and Aluko down to "dark and stupid humour" and claimed he was "trying to make a serious point in a provocative way".
Barton, who has 2.7million follower on X, is said to have also suggested Vine had a sexual interest in children after the TV and radio presenter sent a message querying whether Barton had a "brain injury".
He repeatedly referred to Vine as "bike nonce" and asked him: "Have you been on Epstein Island? Are you going to be on these flight logs? Might as well own up now because I'd phone the police if I saw you near a primary school on ya bike."
He was convicted over the Epstein post and a tweet in which he said: "Oh @the JeremyVine Did you Rolf-aroo and Schofield go out on a tandem bike ride? You big bike nonce ya".
Barton was also found guilty of other tweets in relation to Vine in which he referred to him as "bike nonce" and said: "If you see this fella by a primary school call 999," and "Beware Man with Camera on his helmets cruising past primary schools. Call the Cops if spotted".
He was cleared of guilt over three remaining tweets referring to Vine.
Barton insisted his Epstein tweet to Vine was “crude banter” and that “bike nonce” was a known phrase used by non-cyclists about cyclists.
Barton was bailed ahead of sentencing on December 8.
