Joey Barton Denounces New Malicious Communication Charges

Former footballer Joey Barton, 41, has been charged with two counts of malicious communications relating to social media posts targeting BBC presenter Jeremy Vine and former footballer Lucy Ward. The charges stem from incidents reported between January 3 and March 20, following an investigation by Cheshire Police. Barton, known for his controversial online presence, will appear in Magistrates Court at a later date. He has previously faced accusations of targeting pundit Eni Aluko with derogatory remarks. Barton dismissed the current charges as 'woke nonsense' and has pleaded not guilty to prior allegations. The Crown Prosecution Service authorized the charges after reviewing the police investigation.