Football pundit Eni Aluko has said Joey Barton “thrives on hurting people” and intended to cause harm through his grossly offensive social media posts.

The ex-footballer was sentenced on Monday to six months in custody suspended for 18 months, for making the posts about Ms Aluko, fellow pundit Lucy Ward, and broadcaster Jeremy Vine.

Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight programme on Monday, Ms Aluko said the sentence sent “a huge message”.

“My objective, really, throughout this whole difficult period with this criminal trial, was to ensure that Joey Barton was held accountable for his grossly offensive posts about me, about Jeremy Vine and about Lucy Ward,” she told Newsnight.

“And I think that the sentence reflects very, very serious consequences.

“In totality, that’s what’s important to m

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