Barton, 43, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of sending grossly offensive electronic communications intended to cause anxiety, following posts made on X between January and March 2024 targeting broadcaster Jeremy Vine, calling him a "bike nonce," and football pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko. A jury found Barton guilty after prosecutors argued the posts went beyond protected speech and into criminal conduct. After a televised FA Cup match in January 2024, Barton posted about Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko, comparing them to serial killers Fred and Rose West.
Passing sentence, Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC reportedly made clear the seriousness of the offending. “Given the gravity, persistence and impact of this offending, I have no doubt that neither a fine nor a community order can be justified and that the custody threshold is crossed,” he said.
“There will be concurrent terms of imprisonment for each of these associated offences, the sentences for each reflecting your overall offending and recognising the principle of totality,” he told Barton.
The court stopped short of immediate imprisonment after weighing mitigating factors. “Applying the imposition guideline and carrying out the required balancing exercise, I am satisfied that it is not necessary for those custodial terms to be served immediately,” the judge said.
Menary stated that Barton had demonstrated some capacity for reform. “In light of the steps you have taken, I am persuaded that there is some prospect of rehabilitation,” he said, adding that immediate custody was not required “to protect the public or the victims.”
Instead, the court issued a six-month sentence, suspended for 18 months. “For each of these offences, I impose a suspended sentence order of 18 months’ duration,” Menary said, outlining six-month custodial terms for racially aggravated offences and four-month terms for additional counts, all to run concurrently.
“If during that 18-month period you commit any further offence… it is likely that you will be required to serve some or all of that total six-month period,” he said. In addition, Barton was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work and up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity.
