Joey Barton appears in court after ‘sharing malicious posts about Jeremy Vine & football pundit Lucy Ward’
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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 targeting pundit Eni Aluko but is now facing further charges against her colleague Lucy.
![[Headshot of Joey Barton, Bristol Rovers manager.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/14-04-2023-bristol-rovers-818173260.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Barton, who is also accused of lashing out at BBC star Vine, appeared via video-link at Chester Magistrates' Court today. The 42-year-old is charged with two counts of malicious communications between January 3 and March 20 last year. According to the charges, the messages were of an indecent or grossly offensive nature for the purpose of causing distress and anxiety.
![[BT Sport commentator Lucy Ward holding a microphone.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/bt-sport-commentator-lucy-ward-869962847.jpg?strip=all&w=639)
Barton indicated he would be pleading not guilty pleas to both offences. He has already pleaded not guilty over the Eni Aluko tweets and is due to stand trial this year. The former Man City star was bailed to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on February 13.
![[Jeremy Vine outside the Royal Courts of Justice.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jeremy-vine-outside-royal-courts-940081841.jpg?strip=all&w=679)
Barton previously branded the fresh charges as "more woke nonsense". He landed himself in hot water after launching into alleged attacks against a string of female pundits 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.
![[Eni Aluko of ITV Sport at a FIFA World Cup match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/eni-aluko-itv-sport-looks-838732010.jpg?strip=all&w=681)
Barton allegedly 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, the Fred and Rose West of football commentary.". The star then accused Eni of being in the "Joseph Stalin category" for "murdering hundreds of thousands of fans' ears", it is said.
