Ex-Premier League Star Joey Barton Convicted of Assaulting His Wife

Former Manchester City player Joey Barton received a 12-week suspended prison sentence on Tuesday after being convicted of assaulting his wife, kicking her in the head at their home.

The incident, which occurred in June 2021 in southwest London, left Georgia Barton, 38, with a lump on her forehead and a bleeding nose.

Barton, 42, pushed his wife to the ground during a drunken argument over a family issue, before delivering the blow to her head.

During the sentencing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring dismissed Barton’s testimony as unreliable and “vague”.

While acknowledging Barton’s “history of violence,” the magistrate concluded: “I am satisfied that it is not necessary to impose an immediate custodial sentence.”

Goldspring mentioned that the couple appears to be in a “happy relationship” and has a young child together, stating, “That is not something I want to interfere with.”

Barton was given a 12-week sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay over £2,000 in victim surcharge and prosecution costs.

At the time of the incident, Barton was managing Bristol Rovers, having previously played for clubs like Manchester City, Newcastle, and Queen’s Park Rangers.

Following the assault, Georgia Barton contacted police immediately, stating her husband had “just hit me,” but later retracted her allegations in a letter to the prosecution.

Prosecutor Helena Duong described her 999 call as “compelling evidence” of the assault, noting that Georgia had articulated the situation in “clear terms.”

Duong argued that Georgia Barton was not as affected by alcohol as both parties had claimed.

Barton had acknowledged having an argument with his wife but denied that any “physical” confrontation took place. He was supposed to stand trial in 2022, but the case was postponed after Georgia Barton sent a letter retracting her statements.

In that letter, she indicated that her injuries had resulted from an accident while a friend tried to separate them.