Joey Barton "crossed the line between free speech and a crime" with social media posts about broadcaster Jeremy Vine and female sports pundits Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, a jury has heard.

The former footballer is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court and stands accused of 12 counts of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

The charges relate to a series of posts the 43-year-old made on social media site X between January and March last year.

The prosecution told the jurors that Barton had more than two million followers on X and that his comments on the platform "may well be characterised as cutting, caustic, controversial and forthright".

Peter Wright KC said: "Some may even consider some of them humorous.

"Everyone is entitled to exp

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