Joey Barton received a six-month suspended prison sentence for posting grossly offensive messages on social media, ruled on December 8, 2025
On December 8, 2025, Joey Barton was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court for sending grossly offensive social media posts targeting three people
Barton was handed a six-month prison term, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work along with paying £23,000 in costs
A jury found him guilty of six counts of sending offensive communications intended to cause distress or anxiety, despite Barton claiming they were 'dark humour.'
Reports suggest the abusive posts targeted Jeremy Vine, Lucy Ward, and Eni Aluko, with the judge noting that Barton had crossed the line between free speech and criminal behaviour
Victims described the abuse as traumatising, causing fear and distress. The judge highlighted Barton’s history, including a previous suspended sentence in March 2025 when issuing the ruling