Joey Barton to face trial accused of beating wife 2 days before anniversary

JOEY Barton will face trial accused of leaving his wife with a golf ball sized lump on her head two days before their anniversary.

The former footballer allegedly attacked Georgia Barton at their home in Kew, South West London.

Barton, 41, was due to face trial in 2022 after pleading not guilty to assault by beating but this was halted when Georgia retracted her claims.

However, the trial is now set to go ahead following a ruling at the High Court today.

Dame Victoria Sharp said the previous judge’s decision to drop the case “was wrong in principle”.

Barton is accused of grabbing Georgia by the throat and kicking her in the head during a row in June 2021.

She was said to have been left with a golf ball-sized bruise on her forehead and a bleeding nose.

Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard in March 2022 that Georgia wrote a letter to prosecutors that was in “stark contrast” to her first account.

She claimed they were having dinner with pals and had sunk up to five bottles of wine each.

Georgia then suggested she was injured accidentally when friends intervened in an argument between the pair.

A judge ordered proceedings be paused over concerns a trial would be unfair to Barton.

This was because prosecutors said they did not plan to ask Georgia to give evidence in court as they feared she may give an untruthful account of events.

Barton’s lawyers argued this would leave him at a disadvantage as it meant she could not be questioned over inconsistencies in her evidence.

But Dame Victoria said today: “In the circumstances of this case, it would have been proper for the defence to have called Mrs Barton, and for the prosecution to have cross-examined her.”

She continued: “No prejudice could conceivably have been caused to Mr Barton if Mrs Barton had been called by the defence, or by the court for that matter.”

Barton married his childhood sweetheart in a lavish ceremony in 2019 at a country house in Oxfordshire.

The couple have two children together – a son born in 2011 and a daughter born in 2014.

Barton started his football career with Manchester City in 2002 after going through their youth system and went on to make 150 appearances for the club.

He then moved to Newcastle United in a £5.8million transfer in July 2007 before leaving for Queens Park Rangers in August 2011.

The midfielder was then put on loan to French side Marseille during the 2012-13 season before making his way to Burnley for one season – helping promote them to the Premier League.

Barton made one appearance for England in 2007 – despite criticising some of his fellow players.

The footballer later attempted a management career with stints at Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers.