Jeremy Vine testifies against Joey Barton over online harassment
Jeremy Vine described to a jury the impact of what he termed a “cloud of filth” spread online by former footballer Joey Barton, reports BritPanorama.
The broadcaster, appearing at Liverpool Crown Court, expressed fear for the safety of his children after Barton accused him of being a paedophile on social media and urged his followers to supply evidence supporting these claims. Vine, 60, explained that Barton’s posts had reached an audience of approximately three million on X, generating immense distress.
In addition to the accusations, the court heard that Barton had disclosed Vine’s home address, suggesting that the public should notify the police if he was seen near a primary school. Vine remarked that the harassment not only damaged his reputation but also instilled fear within his family life.
With evident emotion, he stated: “I’m a law abiding father of two and a good husband and these were disgusting allegations. I was particularly concerned about my young daughters but I didn’t want to communicate this to them.” He added, “I felt I had to explain this cloud of filth to them and where it came from.”
The conflict stemmed from Vine’s response to Barton’s social media post that compared football analysts Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward to notorious serial killers Fred and Rose West. Vine’s critique of the remark led to a wave of online harassment that he likened to “a violent assault.”
Barton escalated the situation by referring to Vine as a “bike nonce” and linking him to disgraced figures like Rolf Harris and Jeffrey Epstein. Vine conveyed feelings of being “wantonly torn down for no reason,” explaining, “I could see Mr Barton wanted some kind of push back. He had obviously decided to go all in on abusing me and I was beginning to become very worried.”
Eventually, Vine initiated a libel case, believing that legal action would be the most effective route to end the allegations. In response, Barton publicly questioned if anyone possessed information that could assist his defence.
Reacting to his situation during the trial, Vine expressed astonishment, stating, “I thought, this is incredible. I could not believe I was seeing it.” The libel action concluded with Barton being ordered to pay £75,000 and £35,000 in damages, alongside legal fees, and to issue an apology that was prominently displayed on his X profile.
One component of the apology addressed a manipulated video that falsely suggested Vine supported compulsory vaccination, which he had never advocated. Barton, 43, now faces trial on 12 counts of sending grossly offensive messages with intent to cause distress or anxiety, which he denies. The case continues.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the personal toll online harassment can take on individuals, highlighting the pressing need for a systemic approach to combat such behaviour in the digital landscape.
