Joey Barton denies charges over posts calling Jeremy Vine 'bike nonce' on social media

Former Premier League star Joey Barton has firmly refuted a series of allegations concerning malicious communications. The 42-year-old stood before Liverpool Crown Court on Friday to respond to 12 charges linked to messages aimed at TV presenter Jeremy Vine and ex-women's footballers Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.

Dressed in a navy blue suit paired with a light blue shirt and sunglasses , he entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. Barton, who listed a Widnes address for the court records, is set to face a five-day trial starting on November 3 this year.

Judge Andrew Menary KC, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, granted him bail until the trial date, stipulating that he must not contact any witnesses or reference them on social media. Barton is excused from attending the next hearing on June 27, as he will be on holiday.

Barton also faced charges over tweets made in January of the previous year. Those tweets were allegedly directed at Ms Aluko and Ms Ward while they provided punditry for ITV during the FA Cup tie between Crystal Palace and Everton on January 4, purportedly comparing them to notorious murderers Fred and Rose West.

Another tweet was said to have compared one of the women to tyrants Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot, claiming she was "only there to tick a box".

Barton, with over 400 professional appearances for teams such as Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Queens Park Rangers and with one England cap to his name, has also managed Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers.

Aluko is celebrated for her remarkable contribution to football with 102 caps for England, playing in England, the US, and Italy before transitioning into a respected TV pundit, while Ward, with a 13-year career at clubs including Leeds United, has established her own broadcasting career.

Vine, recognised widely as the host of his BBC Radio 2 lunchtime show and Channel 5’s current affairs programme, found himself embroiled in a Twitter feud with Barton following the latter's controversial remarks regarding the other two individuals mentioned, during which Barton is accused of making further contentious comments by calling him a "big bike nonce".

This article first appeared on the Liverpool Echo.