Former England footballer Joey Barton has arrive at court to face claims he sent offensive social media messages to broadcaster Jeremy Vine and television commentator Lucy Ward.
It comes after the father-of-four, 42, last month denied two charges of sending indecent or offensive messages on social media.
According to the charges, the messages – sent on X, formerly known as Twitter – had intended to cause distress and anxiety.
He is alleged to have sent messages to Ms Ward between 3 and 8 January 2024 and to Mr Vine between 9 January and 20 March.
He tweeted after Aluko and Ward appeared as pundits on ITV for an FA Cup match between Crystal Palace and Everton on 4 January 2024, allegedly comparing them to serial killers Fred and Rose West. In a follow-up tweet, he compared Aluko to Joseph Stalin and Pol Pot, an earlier court hearing was told.
Vine previously sued Barton for libel and harassment over nine X posts, including one falsely calling the BBC Radio 2 presenter a ‘big bike nonce’.
They settled the claim after Barton, who made one England appearance as a substitute in a 2007 friendly against Spain and was most recently manager of League One Bristol Rovers FC, posted two apologies and paid damages and Vine’s legal costs.
Barton, who married fashion designer Georgia McNeil in 2019, previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of malicious communications over the incident with Eluko.