Barton Released From Prison

Premier League footballer Joey Barton has been released from jail after serving just over two months of a six-month sentence for assault.

Barton, of Huyton, in Merseyside, served 74 days of his six-month sentence for attacking a teenager in Liverpool in December last year.

The attack which a judge called a "violent and cowardly" act was caught on CCTV.

Barton pleaded guilty to the charges of assault and affray at Liverpool Crown Court on 20 May.

He was driven off from Strangeways prison gates in a silver Land Rover.

However, while freed today he is also currently 'serving' a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, after a separate conviction for a "ferocious" training ground attack on former Manchester City colleague Ousmane Dabo, which left his victim unconscious and bleeding.

In May 2007, Barton repeatedly punched his then Manchester City colleague as the victim lay on the ground.

Dabo required hospital treatment for facial injuries as a result of the attack.

In June, Barton admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Manchester Minshull Crown Court.

As well as the four-month suspended sentence, he was also ordered to carry out 200 hours community service and to pay £3,000 compensation to Dabo as well as legal costs.

He was in fact on bail over the Dabo incident when he got involved in the fight outside a McDonald's restaurant in Liverpool city centre last December, when the attack on the teenager took place.

The latest court appearance actualy marked the third time for Barton this year.

In June, Barton was cleared of vandalising a taxi during another night out in his native Merseyside.

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan has promised to give the controversial midfielder a second chance at St James' Park despite demands for the 25-year-old to be sacked.

Barton initially signed for Newcastle in July 2007.

Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers Association, Gordon Taylor said: "To some extent I'm glad that he still has some faith in him. Joey's been running out of last chances.

"Hopefully Kevin thinks he can work his oracle with Joey and Joey will get his life back on track both as a human being and as a footballer."

The footballer, who reportedly earns £40,000 a week, began his football career with Manchester City in 2002.

See: Barton Sentenced For Training Ground Assault

(DS)