Joey Barton guilty of assault for kicking wife in head

Former footballer Joey Barton has been found guilty of assault after being accused of knocking his wife to the ground and kicking her in the head. The incident occurred in June 2021 at the couple's home in Kew, southwest London, during an alcohol-fueled argument.

The 42-year-old former Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers midfielder had been drinking with his wife, Georgia Barton, 38, and two other couples, while their children were asleep upstairs. According to a previous hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, the argument started when Barton threatened to fight his wife's brother and father.

At the time of the incident, Barton was the manager of Bristol Rovers. He was given a 12-week suspended sentence. According to previous court hearings, Mrs. Barton had a swollen forehead and a bloody nose. She immediately called the police after the assault, stating that her husband had "just hit" her, but later wrote to prosecutors withdrawing the allegations.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring dismissed Barton's account of the events, finding his explanation "vague and confusing," and convicted him. While acknowledging that Barton "has a record of violence," the judge stated, "I am satisfied that there is no need for an immediate custodial sentence." Mr. Goldspring said that a mitigating factor was that the couple remained in a "happy relationship" and had a young child, adding, "I don't want to interfere with that."

After the sentencing, Barton stated outside the court that he was "very disappointed" with the magistrate's decision and intended to appeal to the High Court. Prosecutor Helena Duong told the court that Mrs. Barton's 999 call that night was "compelling evidence" as she described the events in "clear terms" during the call. Ms. Duong said that Mrs. Barton's bloody nose was "an injury that requires explanation," adding, "It's plainly not accidental."

Barton had previously admitted in court to having an argument with his wife but denied any "physical altercation." It was revealed during the trial that he was arrested in the bedroom that night while he was sleeping and still intoxicated. The former footballer was originally scheduled to stand trial in magistrates' court in 2022, but the case was delayed after Mrs. Barton wrote a letter withdrawing her allegations.

In her letter, she said that her injuries were caused accidentally when a friend moved to separate the two. After prosecutors indicated they did not intend to call Mrs. Barton to testify in court, a judge ordered a stay of proceedings, fearing a trial would be unfair to Barton. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, appealed the ruling to the High Court in London, with lawyers claiming at a hearing that a fair trial could take place. In a judgment in June, two senior judges ruled in favor of the Director of Public Prosecutions, stating that Barton should face a trial on the charges presided over by a different judge.

Barton was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge and prosecution costs of £2,183 within seven days.