Joey Barton Given Suspended Sentence for Assaulting Wife

Found guilty of abusing his wife at their house in June 2021, former football player Joey Barton has been given a 12-week suspended prison term.

Barton had beaten during a fight between the two at their family house, therefore negating the charge of assault. Georgia, his wife, complained of blood and bruising following the event to Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

In court to hear the outcome, the 42-year-old, who was capped once by England and played for Man City, Newcastle, Marseille, Burnley, Rangers and QPR, was present.

“I’m rather let down with the magistrate’s decision,” he remarked. “I have to respect that process in between and intend to appeal this to the High Court; hence, all I can say on the matter.”

Before having a drunken argument on a family matter, the court earlier heard Barton and his wife had each been drinking alcohol with two other couples as their children slept upstairs.

Then he grabbed his wife and shoved her to the ground before kicking her in the head.

Saying her husband had “just hit me,” Mrs. Barton had phoned police right after the event, but subsequently sent a letter to prosecutors withdrawing her claims.

Following a two-day trial, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring found Barton guilty of a single charge of assault by beating on Tuesday at the same court, rejecting his version of events as “vague”.

Mrs. Barton’s 999 call to police on the night of the event was “compelling evidence” of the assault, according to prosecutor Helena Duong, as she had clearly detailed it.

The prosecutor said Mrs. Barton was not as impacted by drinking as both she and Barton had advised.

Saying Mrs. Barton’s bloody nose was “an injury that really requires an explanation,” Ms. Duong said: “It was, plainly, something not caused by an accident.”