Barton jailed over street attack

The Newcastle United midfielder punched one man up to 20 times and left a 16-year-old boy with broken teeth, Liverpool Crown Court was told.

Despite the assurances of his club manager Kevin Keegan that Barton is a changed man, Judge Henry Globe sent him to jail. The judge described him as "aggressive and disgraceful".

Barton, 25, and his cousin, Nadine Wilson, 27, and brother Andrew Barton, 20, were captured on CCTV in a number of violent incidents in Liverpool city centre during the early hours of December 27 last year.

At around 5am the player, who had been on a night out with Wilson and his brother and had consumed ten pints of lager and five bottles of lager, led his group into a McDonald's restaurant for food.

Once inside, the court heard, "loud and aggressive" Wilson, who had drunk up to three bottles of wine, became involved in a confrontation with a group of youths.

Outside the restaurant, the rows continued and Barton was caught on CCTV knocking an unidentified man to the ground. He then punched him four or five times as Wilson threw food at the victim before Barton punched him up to 15 times more.

Minutes later, the player attacked 16-year-old Jordan Spencer, punching him in the mistaken belief the youth had slapped Wilson. The punch broke a number of Mr Spencer's teeth. Wilson and Andrew Barton also became involved in the violence.

Barton was jailed for six months for actual bodily harm (ABH) and four months concurrently for affray. He was also ordered to pay £2,500 compensation to Jordan Spencer.

Wilson, of Childwall, Liverpool, was given a six-month sentence for ABH and two months for affray, suspended for two years. She was also given a 12-month supervision order and instructed to carry out 12-months unpaid work. Andrew Barton, also of Foxbank Close, Widnes, was given a four-month sentence for common assault, suspended for two years, and a 12-month supervision order.