Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton arrives at court to face trial for allegedly grabbing wife

Joey Barton smiled as he left court with his wife today after his trial for ‘assaulting’ her was delayed when she wrote a letter claiming she was hurt by accident during a ‘drunken row’ that saw them drink ‘four of five bottles of wine each’. 

The Bristol Rovers manager, 39, is accused of assaulting Georgia Barton, 36, by beating at a property in Kew, south-west London on June 2 last year, two days before their wedding anniversary.

But Mrs Barton claims she was injured accidentally when friends intervened in the argument outside their home, her husband’s barrister, Simon Csoka QC, told Wimbledon Magistrates Court today.

Earlier, the court heard claims Barton attacked his wife and left a lump the size of a ‘golf ball’ on her head after drinking four bottles of wine. The case will now be heard in June. Barton denies the allegations.

Joey Barton (far right) seen leave Wimbledon Magistrates Court today with his wife, Georgia Barton (left), who he is accused of assaulting

The football manager allegedly kicked her in the head and left her with a head injury and bloody nose at a property where they had been with friends (they are pictured here arriving at court)

The football manager allegedly kicked her in the head and left her with a head injury and bloody nose at a property where they had been with friends (they are pictured here arriving at court) 

Prosecutor Helena Duong said today: ‘On the evening of June 2 Mrs Barton called 999 at 20:14 and said that she had just been hit in her house by her husband and she asked for police officers to attend urgently.

‘At 23:38 the police officers attend, and they speak to her present outside the house waiting for police officers to arrive. She is there with another friend.

‘She gives her first full account of what it is she says happened and in that account she says that she had gotten into a drunken fight, a disagreement about families, with her husband and that she had been pushed down and kicked about and stuff.

‘Then she shows the officers an injury to her head…which is described by an officer as a lump the size of a golf ball.

‘She confirms that that is where she was hit in her head by her husband.

Barton, of Widnes, Cheshire, married his wife three years ago at a lavish venue in Oxfordshire

‘When she touches it there is blood on her hands which seems to have come from a bloody nose.’

The court heard that her husband was asleep upstairs when police arrived and arrested him.

‘The Crown’s case is that he was still intoxicated at that point,’ Ms Duong added.

‘Later on, he gave a no comment interview.

‘The issue in this case…is that Mr Barton denies assaulting his wife at all.’

Counsel entered into arguments about a letter Mrs Barton sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dated February 17 this year.

Ms Duong said: ‘Today I have been provided with a copy of the letter that Mrs Barton [sent] in which she sets out what she now says was her account of what occurred.

‘In the Crown’s submission it is in stark contrast to the objective evidence that was available and contradictory to her first account.

‘She has given an account some eight months later after the incident and in the Crown’s submission it is plainly an attempt to exculpate her husband.’

The court heard the couple are still in a relationship.

Mrs Barton was left with a bloody nose following the alleged attack and then called the police and asked for her husband to be removed from the property

Mrs Barton was left with a bloody nose following the alleged attack and then called the police and asked for her husband to be removed from the property

Simon Csoka, defending, said the prosecution should take a witness statement from Mrs Barton today.

Speaking about Mrs Barton’s letter, Mr Csoka said it recounted how the couple were having dinner with friends.

‘They all had about four or five bottles of wine each,’ Mr Csoka said.

‘What she is suggesting is that the injury was caused accidentally when friends intervened in the argument.’

Ms Duong said the prosecution would not take a witness statement, explaining they never intended to call Mrs Barton as a witness.

‘The prosecution case is brought, as my learned friend says, on the 999 call and the body worn footage,’ she added.

A recording of the 999 call and the body worn footage were ruled admissible by a previous judge.

Former Premier League star Joey Barton (left) will answer allegations he beat up his wife at an assault trial next month. The Bristol Rovers manager and former Newcastle player, 39, is accused of assaulting Georgia Barton (second from left next to former Oasis singer Noel Gallagher and his wife Sara MacDonald in 2011) by beating at a property in Kew, south-west London on June 2 last year

Former Premier League star Joey Barton (left) will answer allegations he beat up his wife at an assault trial next month. The Bristol Rovers manager and former Newcastle player, 39, is accused of assaulting Georgia Barton (second from left next to former Oasis singer Noel Gallagher and his wife Sara MacDonald in 2011) by beating at a property in Kew, south-west London on June 2 last year 

District Judge Andrew Sweet adjourned the hearing for a short break to allow counsel to discuss how to proceed.

Previously, Barton denied he was violent towards his wife and suggested she had been ‘drinking heavily’ and ‘exaggerated’ the incident, two days before their anniversary.

The former Premier League footballer, having also played for QPR and Burnley, made one appearance for England in a friendly against Spain in 2007.

He retired from playing in 2018 and has also managed Fleetwood Town in League One.

Barton sat in the dock at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court wearing a black-knit jumper and black-rimmed glasses.

He denies assault by beating.

District Judge Andrew Sweet adjourned the case to June 23.

The couple married three years ago and the alleged attack occurred two days before their anniversary

The couple married three years ago and the alleged attack occurred two days before their anniversary

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