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Ex-footballer Joey Barton has been found guilty of sending grossly offensive social media posts about broadcaster Jeremy Vine and sport pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.

A Liverpool Crown Court jury found Barton, 43, "had crossed the line between free speech and a crime" with six posts he made on social media platform X.

Barton, of Widnes, Cheshire, had denied 12 counts of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety between January and March last year.

A jury found the ex-Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder guilty of six counts, while clearing him of six others.

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In one social media post, the former midfielder had

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