Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife at their home

The former footballer, 42, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday afternoon, Sky News reports.

The incident happened at the family home in southwest London in June 2021, when Barton attacked Georgia Barton after returning home from a night out with two other couples.

The court heard that Barton kicked her in the head, and also threatened to fight her brother and father in a "verbal disagreement about a family matter."

Barton admitted to having had "six to eight" drinks when the assault occurred. He denied the assault charge.

He had been due to face trial in 2022 after pleading not guilty but the trial was haulted after Georgia, who he is still married to, withdrew her claims.

However, a High Court ruling last year stated that the trial could still go ahead and that the previous decision to drop the case was "wrong in principle."