Jailed footballer Joey Barton in court again - but is cleared of vandalising a taxi

Premiership footballer Joey Barton was cleared today of criminal damage.

The Newcastle United midfielder, 25, was found not guilty at Liverpool Magistrates' Court of vandalising a taxi after a night out in March last year.

The Crown alleged that the player was with his cousin Joshua Wilson, 19, in the taxi in the early hours of March 4 when things turned nasty at a McDonald's in Liverpool.

Prosecutor Robert Jansen said when the driver, Michael Kay, refused to queue at a drive-through, Barton became aggressive.

A row broke out, Mr Kay refused to take the men on to their destination and Barton ripped out the cabbie's radio, it was claimed.

But the fingerprints on the smashed screen were not Barton's and today his cousin admitted in court that he had caused the damage.

It took magistrates just 15 minutes to acquit the former Manchester City player.

Hearing the verdict, Barton said: 'Thank you,' and smiled at his father.

Barton, who has a reputation for bad behaviour on and off the pitch,  was jailed last week for six months after admitting assault and affray in December last year.

The footballer admitted attacking two teenagers after downing ten pints of lager and five bottles of beer.

He returned to prison after the half-day trial today.