Joey Barton: Case of ‘assault by beating’ against Bristol Rovers manager dismissed due to lack of a fair trial | Football News

A case of ‘assault by beating’ against Joey Barton has been dismissed. 

The Bristol Rovers manager was at Wimbledon Magistrates court to hear the decision.

The case relates to an incident in June last year at Joey Barton’s home in Kew, south west London.

The prosecution had alleged Mr Barton and his wife, Georgia, had a drunken row in which Mrs Barton suffered a bruise to her head “the size of a golf ball”.

But soon after the incident, Mrs Barton contacted prosecutors to urge no action be taken against her husband. She told them her injuries were caused accidentally.

District Judge Andrew Sweet told Mr Barton he would not be able to receive a fair trial.

“These proceedings are stayed,” he told Barton. “You are free to leave the dock”.