Joey Barton Pleads Not Guilty to Malicious Communications

Joey Barton, the former Bristol Rovers manager, has pleaded not guilty to charges of malicious communications directed at football pundit Eni Aluko. Appearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court, Barton is accused of sending offensive tweets between January 3 and 8, including comparisons of Aluko and fellow pundit Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West, and likening Aluko to historical figures Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot. The judge has sent the case to crown court, where Barton is scheduled to appear on August 27 and has been granted conditional bail with a stipulation not to mention Aluko on social media. Barton previously criticized the police investigation, questioning their priorities and lamenting over what he perceives as a decline in civil liberties. Aluko, a retired footballer, has become a target of Barton's online criticisms since late last year.