Joey Barton charged with alleged malicious communications to pundit Eni Aluko
Joey Barton has been charged following an investigation by Cheshire Police into a series of tweets the former Bristol Rovers manager made towards pundit Eni Aluko in January
Joey Barton has been charged with alleged malicious communications towards Eni Aluko.
The former Bristol Rovers and Fleetwood Town manager is due to appear in court on 30 July in response to the charges. It follows an investigation by Cheshire Police after Barton posted a series of tweets attacking Aluko back in January.
The force said in a statement: “A man from Widnes has been summoned to court to face charges of malicious communications. Following an investigation by Cheshire Police, the Crown Prosecution Service has since authorised the charges for Joseph Barton.
"The 41-year-old will appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 30 July. The charges relate to reports of alleged malicious communications online, between Monday 1 January and Thursday 18 January.”
In response to the charges, Barton tweeted: "I’m up next month for ‘malicious communications’ charge at Warrington Mag for Eni Aluko tweets. Crazy times we’re living in.
"Haven’t the Police got enough on their hands? British system is becoming a Banana Republic. Lawfare used against its own citizens for having a dissenting voice. Not quite North Korea yet but won’t be long. Viva La Revolution."
Barton began criticising female pundits in December, with Aluko quickly becoming one of his main targets. In a post in January, he compared Aluko and fellow pundit Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West.
At the time the duo were working for ITV as pundits on the FA Cup clash between Crystal Palace and Everton. Later that month, Aluko revealed she had taken legal action after the alleged online abuse she faced.
“Now, I’m open and honest and I’m human and I’m more than happy to admit that I’ve been scared this week,” she added in a 15-minute video posted on Instagram. “I’ve genuinely been scared this week. I didn’t leave my house until Friday and I’m now abroad.
"It’s really important to say that online abuse has a direct impact on your safety and how you feel and how safe you feel in real life. I’ve felt under threat this week. I’ve felt like something is going to happen to me.
"And I don’t say that for anyone to feel sorry for me – I say that for people to understand the reality and the impact that hate speech has, the impact that racism has, the impact that sexism has, the impact that misogyny has on all of us females in the game, in sports broadcasting.
“That’s the real impact – and it’s not an isolated incident, this is now showing up as a culture in the game, from certain fan bases and certain people. They’re creating a culture where people don’t want to go to work, people don’t want to leave their house, people feel under threat. Obviously there’s a big impact on mental health as well.”
Earlier this month, Barton agreed a final settlement of £110,000 with Jeremy Vine after the former footballer labelled the broadcaster a 'bike nonce'. Vine sued Barton for defamation and harassment over the posts, with that action now ended after Barton agreed to pay damages and apologised.
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