"Mr de Wilde, representing Ms Aluko, said that Barton's posts wrongly claimed she had "cynically sought to exploit her status as an alleged victim of racism and bullying", and called her a hypocrite. The barrister said that between January and August 2024, Barton published 48 posts relating to Ms Aluko on his X account, adding that he had carried out a deliberately targeted public campaign of vilification."
"The campaign amounted to an attack on multiple aspects of her life and personality. Mr Barton's campaign caused Ms Aluko enormous distress. When she sought to defend herself against Mr Barton's conduct, and that of his followers, he criticised and attacked her for doing so."
"Mr Barton has now accepted that his campaign against Ms Aluko amounted to harassment and that he should not have made the publications. According to a court order, Barton has been told to pay 339,000 with the first 100,000 plus legal costs."
Joey Barton has been ordered by the High Court to pay former England international Eni Aluko over £300,000 in damages and legal costs following a libel case. Barton published 48 posts on X between January and August 2024 that wrongly claimed Aluko had exploited her status as an alleged victim of racism and bullying, calling her a hypocrite. The campaign included an image of Aluko's head superimposed onto serial killer Rosemary West's body. Barton's targeted public campaign caused Aluko significant distress and harassment. The court heard that Barton has accepted his campaign amounted to harassment and that he should not have made the publications. Barton was absent from the hearing as he was arrested on Monday in connection with an alleged serious assault and has been charged with wounding with intent.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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