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Joey Barton has walked free from court after sending grossly offensive social media posts online.

The ex-footballer landed in court over the posts about broadcaster Jeremy Vine, as well as TV football pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.

A jury at Liverpool Crown Court last month found that the 43-year-old had 'crossed the line between free speech and a crime' with six posts on X, formerly Twitter.

Barton likened Ward and Aluko to the 'Fred and Rose West of football commentary' after a televised FA Cup tie in January 2024 between Crystal Palace and Everton.

He went on to superimpose their faces on to a photograph of the serial murderers.

READ MORE: Former BBC Radio One DJ Tim Westwood in court over rape and sex assault charges

In another post about Aluko, Barton said: "Only

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