Former footballer Joey Barton has been told to pay ex-England international Eni Aluko more than £300,000 in damages and legal costs after being sued for libel – as it emerged he has been charged over an alleged assault at a Merseyside golf club.
The High Court in London heard on Tuesday that a case involving posts on social media site X (Twitter) had been stayed.
Barton, 43, who played for Manchester City and now hosts a podcast, was not at the court hearing. Gervase de Wilde, representing Ms Aluko, 39, said Barton was “currently being held in custody”.
In the libel case, Mr De Wilde said Barton's posts wrongly claimed she had "cynically sought to exploit her status as an alleged victim of racism and bullying", and called her a hypocrite.
The barrister said that between January and August 2024, Barton published 48 posts relating to Ms Aluko on his X account, adding that he had “carried out a deliberately targeted public campaign of vilification”.
Mr De Wilde said that one post included an image of Ms Aluko’s head superimposed onto serial killer Rosemary West’s body.
He continued: “The campaign amounted to an attack on multiple aspects of her life and personality.
“Mr Barton’s campaign caused Ms Aluko enormous distress. When she sought to defend herself against Mr Barton’s conduct, and that of his followers, he criticised and attacked her for doing so,” he added.
Mr De Wilde said that Ms Aluko was worried that when she tried to stop the harassment, Barton “would exploit and manipulate it to use against her”.
The barrister continued: “Mr Barton has now accepted that his campaign against Ms Aluko amounted to harassment and that he should not have made the publications.”
According to a court order, Barton, from Widnes, Cheshire, has been told to pay £339,000 – with the first £100,000 plus interest due by 24 March.
Mr Justice Lavender granted Barton seven days to ask to change the order. Ms Aluko attended the court and said after the hearing: “I’m glad it’s the end.”
In the separate criminal case, Barton is accused of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm along with a second man, Gary O'Grady, 50, from Huyton, Merseyside.
They appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday afternoon and spoke to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth.
The men are accused of attacking Kevin Lynch at Fairway, Huyton, on Sunday.
Chelsea Kearns, prosecuting, said Mr Lynch, 51, had been at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club drinking with the two defendants.
Mr Lynch is said to be in a serious but stable condition in hospital, but there is a possibility he may lose sight in one eye.
The case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court, where the men will appear for a plea hearing on 7 April.
