Barton sentenced to six months in jail

Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton was sentenced to six months in jail today after admitting to beating up a teenager during a night out.

The sentence was handed down at Liverpool Crown Court, where the 25-year-old admitted charges of affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stemming from an early morning fight in Liverpool last December (27th).
   
Barton's brother, Andrew Barton, also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and a third defendant, Nadine Wilson, 27, pleaded guilty to affray and common assault.

Judge Henry Globe QC, at Liverpool Crown Court, told him it was a "violent and cowardly act".
   
Barton had pleaded guilty last month but the court initially imposed an order preventing details being published after the player's lawyers argued it could prejudice a jury in a separate assault trial he faces in Manchester.
   
The court lifted the reporting restrictions today after hearing arguments from media organisations that information about Barton's history of bad behaviour was in the public domain.
   
Barton, of Foxbank Road, Widnes, was caught on CCTV knocking an unidentified man to the ground.

He then straddled the man, and punched him four or five times as his cousin threw food at the victim before Barton punched him up to 15 times more.

Minutes later, the player attacked a 16-year-old, punching him and leaving him with broken teeth.

It followed a series of verbal confrontations inside a McDonald's restaurant after a night out during which he had consumed 10 pints and five bottles of lager.

Barton's cousin, Nadine Wilson, of Childwall, Liverpool, and his brother Andrew, 20, also of Foxbank Road, Widnes, also pleaded guilty to their part in the assaults.

The incident took place as the player was awaiting trial for two other offences: alleged criminal damage of a taxi and the alleged assault of former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo, 31, who now plays for Lazio. He has pleaded not guilty to this case.

The hearing heard the footballer was remorseful about the incident and had admitted to an alcohol problem.

Judge Globe added: "Without doubt, the most serious of the three offenders is you.

"You were restrained by others but ignored them and acted in an extremely violent and aggressive manner.

"It also happened at a time when you were on bail for two other matters. If ever there was a time when you should be on your best behaviour, it was then.

"You have a high profile as a footballer and you know that draws attention to you. Yet you drank to excess and behaved in an aggressive, disgraceful manner."

The judge jailed Barton for six months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and four months, concurrently, for affray.

He was ordered to pay £2,500 to Jordan Spencer, the youth whose teeth were broken.

As he was taken down, Barton kissed Wilson on the cheek and shook his brother's hand.

He then stopped to hand over pieces of jewellery to a man in the public gallery.