Joey Barton leaves jail

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton was released from jail today.

Barton, 25, left Strangeways prison in Manchester at 11am after serving 74 days of a six-month sentence for beating up a teenager in Liverpool city centre last December.

He was jailed on May 20 after pleading guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to assault and affray.

Today the £40,000-a-week former Manchester City player enjoyed his first taste of freedom after weeks in the cells.

Barton, wearing jeans and a jumper and carrying a holdall, shook hands with a friend waiting for him outside the prison gates.

He made no comment to reporters before getting into a waiting silver Land Rover and being driven off.