Joey Barton X posts ‘completely devastated’ Jeremy Vine

Broadcaster Jeremy Vine told the court he was left “completely devastated” by former footballer Joey Barton being referred to as a “bicycle moment” in social media posts.

Former Man City player Mr Barton is alleged to have “crossed the line between freedom of expression and crime” with messages he posted on X about the TV and radio presenter, as well as football commentators Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.

Mr Barton, 43, who has 2.7 million followers on the platform, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court and denies 12 charges of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

Mr Vine told the hearing that the posts had given him “sleepless nights” and that he was “scared and upset”.

The court heard that on January 8, 2024, Mr Vine responded to a post by Mr Barton on X, which likened Ms Aluko and Ms Ward to “Fred and Rose West football commentary” following the FA Cup tie between Crystal Palace and Everton.

Prosecutor Peter Wright KC asked Mr Vine why he had attended the conversation.

Mr Vine told the court: “I thought it was very bad manners to put their faces on two mass child murderers.

“I was looking for an explanation and mentioned the brain injury to emphasize my feeling that he had crossed the line.”

Simon Csoka KC, defending, said: “Are you really expressing concern about Mr Barton suffering a head injury or are you just taking the microphone?”

Mr. Vine responded: “I elevate it by giving that level of insight, which is something on social media.”

The court also heard Mr Vine made him “feel physically unsafe” after he claimed Mr Barton posted a picture of his address online.

He said: “I truly believe that what Barton did made me physically unsafe. I received some advice regarding my safety. I changed my actions. I did not want to communicate the dangers to others.” [to my daughters].

“I had to explain to them because of this cloud of filth that Barton was releasing. I can only sum it up by saying that I believe these messages put me in physical danger.”

Jurors were told in June 2024 that Mr Barton agreed to pay Mr Vine £75,000 in damages, along with his legal costs, for defamation and harassment as both parties settled the civil suit.

In another settlement between both parties, Mr Barton paid Mr Vine £35,000 in damages and legal costs over similar matters.

The court also heard Mr Barton apologized to the publisher via account X in June 2024 and said he had made a “very serious allegation” on social media in which he accused Mr Vine of having a sexual interest in children, which he said was “not true”.

Mr Barton then entered the witness box and told the jury that his posts had caused concern and distress to “the girls and Jeremy” but accepted that was not his intention.

He said he watched the January 2024 FA Cup tie as a “huge Evertonian” and thought the analysis was “full of sound bites”.

He said: “It was really poor. I thought the coverage had fallen to a new low.”

When asked what he meant by the Fred and Rose West comparison, he said: “To me, they’re just killing the broadcast.

“I was trying to make a serious point in a provocative way. It was dark and stupid, but it was a joke.

“I wasn’t trying to say they were murderers, child rapists, or Westerners.

“It was a stupid joke.”

The superimposed photo he later posted was also a joke, he told the jury.

He said: “This was about trying to get the conversation on the table so that we can achieve some standards of quality in our profession.

“I saw that it was causing distress to the girls and Jeremy… That was never my intention.”

He said his “bikenance” references to Mr Vine in various posts were in response to the presenter “trying to goad him” into appearing on the Channel 5 program to discuss his views on women’s football pundits.

Mr Barton said: “I was trying to make a joke. Dark humour. I didn’t mean to call him a paedophile.

“What I understand from the word ‘cycling’ is someone who is intensely interested in something…”

“I had followed many of Jeremy’s experiences on his daily commute. Cycling means someone who loves bikes and lycra and buys all the gear.”

He told the jury that the libel suit apology attached to publication X was part of the requirement of the settlement and was the lawyers’ words, not his.

He said: “I was trying to keep costs down and get on with my life. Judging by the controversy online, it was taking too much time.

“I had to sign this to prevent it from reaching millions.”

Mr Barton, of Widnes, Cheshire, denies the offenses which are alleged to have been committed between January and March last year.

Mr Barton also played for Manchester City, as well as Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Marseille, before moving into management after his retirement.

He was sacked from his most recent managerial role at Bristol Rovers in October 2023 after almost three years in charge.

The trial continues.