Joey Barton spared jail
Published:
PREMIERSHIP footballer Joey Barton was spared jail this afternoon for attacking a team-mate in a training ground row.
Barton, 25, punched former Manchester City colleague Ousmane Dabo up to five times, leaving him unconscious and covered in blood on the ground.
The Newcastle United midfielder had claimed he acted in self-defence but changed his plea to guilty ahead of a scheduled trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
Today he was given a four-month suspended sentence.
Barton, already serving six months jail for affray and assault, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He had been due to go on trial after “strenuously denying” the allegation for more than 12 months.
Since bursting on to the Premiership football scene in April 2003, Barton has been making headlines both on and off the pitch.
CCTV footage of the earlier alcohol-fuelled violence which saw Barton jailed has been released by police.
The 25-year-old was caught on film in Liverpool punching one man up to 20 times before attacking a teenage boy.
