Barton Released With Conditions
By Tyne-Talk
January 3 2008
Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has been released from prison in Liverpool on conditional bail. This morning it looked like he would be facing another weekend in a cell after appearing at Liverpool magistrates court and having the charge against him upgraded from a Section 39 of Common Assault to a Section 47 of Actual Bodily Harm (ABH).
The former Manchester City player who has already missed matches against Chelsea and Manchester City looked set to still be inside when his team face Stoke in the FA cup tie on Sunday evening.
Barton who appeared by video link earlier today, wearing regulation prison wear, was told by Magistrates that his charge had been increased and that he would NOT be receiving bail because he "would commit offences while on bail".
His solicitor Daniel Weed made a quick application for bail to Judge David Swift at Liverpool Crown Court, it was then announced that the original ruling had been over-turned and that he would infact be granted bail - with conditions. Those conditions are as yet unknown.
Barton will have to return to the Magistrates court on the 16th of January 2008 to answer bail. Had he not have been released he would have been held until this date.
He was arrested on 27th December 2007 along with his brother Andrew Barton aged 19 and 27 year old Nadine Wilson who both received a lesser charge of Assault and Affray and were bailed at the time until January 16th 2008.
Barton claims he was "goaded" into a reaction outside the Liverpool McDonalds where he was arrested after a female out with him and his friends was attacked.
Barton has a history of off pitch antics:
- In 2004 he was nearly sacked by Manchester City for stubbing out a cigarette in team mate Jamie Tandy's eye at the Christmas party.
- July 2004 saw him dismissed from training and fined 8 weeks wages in Thailand for fighting with an Everton fan at the hotel, an incident during which his captain Richard Dunne was injured.
- 2006 saw Barton mooning at the Everton fans and as a result fined £2000 by the FA and earlier this year he was arrested for criminal damage and criminal assault after allegedly assaulting a taxi driver.
- Joey Barton is currently on bail for yet another incident at his former club Manchester City where he stands accused of assaulting former teammate Ousmane Dabo on the training ground. He was arrested in May last year and answered bail on 15th July. He was re-bailed until 2nd August allowing the police to follow up enquiries, he then pleaded not guilty and was re-bailed again to October - he was bailed once more until 22nd November where he appeared before Manchester Crown Court with a trial date set for June 2008.