"Rumeana JahangirNorth West Getty Images Football pundit Eni Aluko said she was "glad justice has been served" after former England player Joey Barton was found guilty of sending "grossly offensive" social media posts aimed at her and other broadcasters. In early 2024, Barton compared Aluko and commentator Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West, and called Jeremy Vine a 'bike nonce'."
""Social media is a cesspit where too many people feel they can say things to others they wouldn't dream of saying in real life under the guise of freedom of speech." She added: "This is a reminder that actions online do not come without consequences. "The messages directed at me, Lucy Ward and Jeremy Vine by Joey Barton were deeply distressing and had a real damaging impact on my life and career. "I am glad that justice has been served.""
"Jurors convicted former Manchester City, Newcastle and QPR midfielder Barton, 43, of six counts of sending grossly offensive social media posts and cleared him of six others. He will be sentenced on 8 December. PA Media After the guilty verdicts, Ward - who told the trial that Barton's posts felt like 'continuous harassment' - issued an Instagram post in which she wrote: "Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. "It's been an extremely difficult and sometimes harrowing last two years.""
Joey Barton was convicted of six counts of sending grossly offensive social media posts. The posts compared pundits to serial killers, superimposed their faces on images of Fred and Rose West, and called Jeremy Vine a 'bike nonce'. Prosecutors told Liverpool Crown Court Barton had crossed the line between free speech and a crime. Eni Aluko said the messages were deeply distressing, damaged her life and career, and warned that social media is a cesspit where online actions have consequences. Lucy Ward described the past two years as extremely difficult and harrowing and stated that freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. Barton will be sentenced on 8 December.
Read at www.bbc.com
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