Barton to spend new year period behind bars

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton will spend New Year in jail after being refused bail on charges of common assault and affray, a court ruled today.

The 25-year-old was arrested in Liverpool early yesterday after an incident in the city centre.

Barton, of Foxbank Close in Widnes, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court for a 45-minute bail hearing this morning.

He was remanded in custody until January 3 and will miss tomorrow's Premier League match at Chelsea and the visit to Tyneside of former club Manchester City on Wednesday.

Jayne Hughes, prosecuting, had earlier told the court that Barton could clearly be seen on CCTV involved in a series of incidents in Church Street in Liverpool city centre at 5.30am yesterday.

She said Barton and his friends became involved in a confrontation with another group inside a McDonald’s restaurant and the manager asked both parties to leave.

Outside, she said, the alleged affray took place when an unknown man made a gesture towards the player.

She said there followed a final incident in which a man was allegedly punched to the ground by Barton.

She said: “The CCTV clearly shows Mr Barton involved in altercations with members of the public going about their business.

“He was seen pacing around Church Street and lashing out indiscriminately at people walking around and standing around.”

Alongside Barton, his brother, Andrew (aged 19) from Widnes, is charged with actual bodily harm and affray and Nadine Wilson (aged 27) from Huyton, Merseyside, who was also part of Barton’s group, is charged with common assault and affray.

Barton’s solicitor, Gwyn Lewis, said the 11-minute long incident was the result of a “great deal of provocation”.

He said: “Mr Barton was involved in an incident of which he is in no way proud.

“He was goaded. They recognised his face and he was an easy target for them.

“It is fair to say there was an enormous amount of provocation, although that is not a defence.”

Mr Lewis said the player was goaded because he did not sign for Everton FC this summer, over his playing abilities, and over the conviction of his half-brother Michael for the racist murder of Anthony Walker in 2005.

Mr Lewis said the final straw came when a girl in Barton’s group was assaulted in the street by a man.

He said: “That was the spark that lit the tinderbox and, there is no secret about it, he lost his temper.”

Mr Lewis offered the court a number of bail conditions including a police imposed curfew and the offer of residency at the Sporting Chance clinic in Hampshire.

On hearing the decision, Barton turned to the prison guard beside him and held his hands out to be cuffed before being returned to the cells.

He had sat through the hearing, still wearing his black shirt and jumper from Boxing Day night, with his head bowed and hidden from the press and public gallery.

Details of the two earlier offences, for which he will face court in Liverpool next month and in Manchester in June, cannot be reported.

The case is due to be heard again by Liverpool Magistrates on January 3 when Barton is expected to appear via a video link.

A spokesman for Newcastle United said the club is not yet making any statement.