Joey Barton appears in court after ‘sharing malicious posts about Jeremy Vine and football pundit Lucy Ward’

JOEY Barton has appeared in court after allegedly sharing “malicious” posts about Jeremy Vine and football commentator Lucy Ward.

The former footballer was already accused of attacking pundit Eni Aluko, but now faces further charges against his colleague Lucy.

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Barton, who is also charged with assault BBC star Vine, appeared via video link at Chester Magistrates’ Court today.

The 42-year-old is charged with two counts of malicious communication between January 3 and March 20 last year.

According to the prosecutors, the messages were of an obscene or grossly offensive nature intended to cause distress and anxiety.

Barton indicated that he would plead not guilty to both offenses.

He has already pleaded not guilty over the Eni Aluko tweets and will stand trial this year.

The former Man City star was bailed to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on February 13.

Barton has previously branded the new charges “more woke nonsense”.

He landed himself in hot water after launching alleged attacks against a number of female experts in December 2023.

This included Eni and Lucy, who at the time were working as pundits for ITV on the FA Cup clash between Crystal Palace and Everton.

Barton reportedly claimed Eni “can’t even kick a ball properly” before adding: “Your coverage of the game EFC last night took it to a new low.

“Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, they Peace and Rose West of football commentary.”

The star then accused Eni of being in the “Joseph Stalin category” for “murdering the ears of hundreds of thousands of fans”, it said.

Eni bravely revealed she was seeking legal action after the barrage left her “scared”.

Vine was also caught up in a social media spat after Barton branded him a “big bike nonce”.

Barton started his football career with Manchester City in 2002 after coming through their youth system and went on to make 150 appearances for the club.

Then he moved to Newcastle United in a £5.8m transfer in July 2007 before leaving for Queens Park Rangers in August 2011.

The midfielder was then loaned out to French side Marseille for the 2012–13 season before moving to Burnley in one season – helping to promote them to the Premier League.

Barton made a single appearance for England in 2007 – despite criticizing some of his fellow players.

The footballer later tried his hand at a managerial career with stints on it Fleetwood City and Bristol Rovers.

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