Eni Aluko says Joey Barton “intended to hurt people” as suspended sentence sends “huge message”

Local TV

Former footballer Joey Barton has received a suspended custodial sentence for grossly offensive online posts, as pundit Eni Aluko tells Newsnight the case shows abusive, racially targeted behaviour can lead to criminal consequences.

Transcript

00:00Annie Oluko says Joey Barton absolutely intended to cause harm with his social media posts.

00:06Now, after Joey Barton's sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, she says the outcome delivers accountability.

00:11The former footballer was given a six-month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months for six grossly offensive posts aimed at Oluko,

00:19fellow pundit Lucy Ward and broadcaster Jeremy Vine.

00:22Speaking on BBC's Newsnight programme, Ms Oluko said the sentence sends what she called a huge message.

00:28During the interview, host Nick Watt put Barton's claim to her that he never intended to hurt anyone.

00:35Ms Oluko rejected that, saying she believed he thrives on hurting people.

00:39She said evidence in the trial showed he had several opportunities to stop posting,

00:44but continued in pursuit of online engagement to promote a podcast.

00:48A jury at Liverpool Crown Court previously ruled Barton, aged 43, had crossed the line between free speech and a crime,

00:55with his post on X, formerly Twitter.

00:58After a televised FA Cup tie in January 2024, he compared Ward and Oluko to the Fred and Rose West of football commentary

01:05and used an image superimposing their faces onto a photograph of the serial killers.

01:10Sentencing Barton, Judge Andrew Menary Casey said that while robust debate can fall within free speech,

01:16vilifying comparisons and false insinuations designed to distress forfeit their protection.

01:21He said Barton's actions amounted to a sustained campaign of targeted online abuse.

01:27Barton must complete 200 hours of unpaid community work and pay prosecution costs of £23,419.

01:35Two-year restraining orders were issued in respect of all three victims,

01:39preventing any further references to them on social media or broadcast platforms.

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