Former footballer Joey Barton has been spared an immediate jail sentence for sending grossly offensive social media posts.The former Newcastle United and Manchester City star was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday to six months in custody, suspended for 18 months.
00:00Given the gravity, persistence and impact of this offending, I have no doubt that neither a fine alone nor a community order can be justified and that the custody threshold is crossed.
00:13There 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.
00:25However, 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.
00:39In light of the steps you have taken, I am persuaded that there is some prospect of rehabilitation, that an immediate custodial sentence is not required to protect either the public or the victims, and that a suspended sentence order may itself operate as a deterrent against any future offending by you.
01:02For each of these offences, I impose a suspended sentence order of 18 months' duration.
01:11On counts 2 and 4, the racially aggravated offences, there will be custodial terms of 6 months, and on counts 6, 8, 9 and 10, custodial terms of 4 months, all such terms to run concurrently, and all suspended for a period of 18 months.
01:29If, during that 18-month period, you commit any further offence, whether or not of the same type, you will be brought back before the court, and it is likely that you will be required to serve some or all of that total 6-month period.
01:45That, of course, is not an end of the matter.
01:48For the next 12 months, you will be subject to a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days, and you are required to complete 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.
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