Joey Barton denies sending offensive messages on social media
The former footballer allegedly compared two female pundits to serial killers
Former footballer Joey Barton has pleaded not guilty to sending a series of allegedly offensive posts on social media after referring to Jeremy Vine as a "bike nonce" and football commentators and pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko as Fred and Rose West.
Barton, 42, in a dark suit and tie and wearing spectacles, stood in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court, repeating "not guilty" to all of the 12 charges put to him.
They arise out of a series of posts made from Barton's account in January, February and March last year on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.
In the posts Barton, a former Manchester City and Newcastle United midfielder, is accused of sending grossly offensive communications with the intention of causing distress or anxiety.
They include allegedly referring to Aluko and Ward as notorious murderers Fred and Rose West, calling both TV personalities "serial killers" and referring to Aluko, who is black, as "only there to tick a box".
He also referred to both women as "Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot", it is claimed.
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