Former footballer Joey Barton has been found guilty of assaulting his wife by kicking her in the head at their family home. The incident took place in Kew, south-west London, in June 2021. Joey Barton, a former Manchester City and QPR midfielder, left his wife, Georgia Barton, 38, with a lump on her forehead and a bleeding nose. The assault occurred after an evening of drinking with two other couples while their children were asleep upstairs. The couple got into a drunken argument about a family issue, which escalated when Barton pushed his wife to the ground and kicked her in the head.
Despite initially calling the police and reporting the assault, Georgia Barton later retracted her allegations in a letter to prosecutors. However, the court heard compelling evidence from Mrs. Barton’s 999 call on the night of the incident, where she described the assault in clear terms. The chief magistrate, Paul Goldspring, rejected Barton’s vague account of events, leading to his conviction on a single charge of assault by beating after a two-day trial.
During the trial, prosecutor Helena Duong highlighted that Mrs. Barton’s injuries, including a bloody nose and a lump on her head, were not consistent with accidental causes. Despite Barton denying any physical altercation took place, the court found him guilty based on the evidence presented. Barton was arrested at his home, where he was found still drunk in his bedroom. He was taken to a local police station for questioning, where he chose to give a no-comment interview.
Simon Csoka, Barton’s defense attorney, argued that the timing between the injury and the 999 call was unclear, suggesting the possibility of accidental injury. However, the court ultimately sided with the prosecution’s assertion that the injuries sustained by Mrs. Barton were a result of the assault by Barton.
The case had been adjourned in 2022 after Georgia Barton retracted her initial allegations, claiming her injuries were caused accidentally when a friend intervened to separate the couple during the argument. Despite the guilty verdict, Joey Barton and his wife are said to still be living together and are married.
Joey Barton, who appeared in court wearing a black jacket and trousers, did not speak during the proceedings but was asked to stand as the verdict was delivered. The court’s decision signifies a legal reckoning for the former footballer, who now faces the consequences of his actions. The incident sheds light on issues of domestic violence and the importance of addressing such behaviour, even in cases where victims may retract their allegations.
The conviction serves as a reminder that domestic abuse is a serious crime that can have lasting effects on individuals and families. The court’s decision sends a strong message that violence in any form will not be tolerated, regardless of the relationships involved. As Joey Barton awaits sentencing, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of resorting to violence in intimate relationships.