Former Manchester City footballer Joey Barton received a 12-week suspended prison sentence on Tuesday after being found guilty of assaulting his wife.
The court heard that Barton, 42, kicked his wife, Georgia Barton, in the head following a drunken argument at their home in southwest London in June 2021.

Georgia Barton, 38, sustained a bleeding nose and a large lump on her forehead from the assault.
The altercation began during a heated argument over a family matter, which turned violent when Barton grabbed her, pushed her down, and kicked her.

Court Rejects Barton’s Account

At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring dismissed Barton’s version of events as “vague and untruthful.”
Although he noted Barton’s previous record of violence, the magistrate decided that a custodial sentence was not necessary.

“I am satisfied that it is not necessary to impose an immediate custodial sentence,” Goldspring stated.
He noted that Barton and his wife remain in a “happy relationship” with a young child, adding, “That is not something I want to interfere with.”

Sentence and Costs

The court handed Barton a 12-week sentence, suspended for two years.
He must also pay over £2,000 ($2,600) in victim surcharge and prosecution costs.

At the time of the incident, Barton was managing Bristol Rovers FC.
His playing career included stints at Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, and Burnley.

Contradicting Evidence and Victim Retraction

Georgia Barton initially called police on the night of the incident and told them her husband had “just hit me.”
However, she later retracted her statement in a letter to prosecutors, claiming her injuries happened accidentally during an attempt to separate the pair.

Despite the retraction, Prosecutor Helena Duong emphasized that Georgia’s original 999 call served as “compelling evidence” of the assault.
Duong also argued that Georgia Barton was not as intoxicated as she and Barton claimed in court.

Barton Denied Physical Assault

Barton admitted to arguing with his wife but denied any physical violence.
He was originally scheduled to stand trial in 2022, but the case was delayed due to the victim’s retraction letter.

In court, Barton maintained that there was no physical contact during the dispute.
However, the court ultimately ruled against him, citing the clear timeline and evidence provided by the emergency call.