Jeremy Vine reveals what will happen if Joey Barton fails to pay staggering legal bill

TV presenter Jeremy Vine has released a lengthy statement regarding his recent legal action again Joey Barton - claiming that the former footballer has paid out more than half a million pounds after their High Court libel battle.

Vine sued Barton for libel and harassment over several online posts, including one in which he falsely called the BBC Radio 2 presenter a "big bike nonce" and a "pedo defender" on Twitter (X).

The pair settled the claim last year after Barton posted two apologies on the same social media platform and paid a total of £110,000 in damages to Vine, as well as his legal costs.

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However, there had been some confusion regarding the exact amount Barton would pay out - something Vine has now attempted to clear up. In a series of tweets on Twitter (X), the The Jeremy Vine Show host told his followers he has "no further beef with Mr Barton" and "it is a relief just to be vindicated and to have the case settled so decisively".

He began his thread with: "STATEMENT Thank-you for such kind messages about my libel action against Joey Barton. I can confirm it is now concluded and I am satisfied with the result. Mr Barton has now paid out more than half a million pounds in my case alone.

"There seems to be some confusion about the stages of the case. The below is to explain the numbers. I have no further beef with Mr Barton, who has a series of ongoing legal problems to deal with. While defending my libel action, he also became a convicted wifebeater.

"My damages in the case were £110,000. These were paid last year, and Mr Barton made the agreed public apology. But my costs in bringing the case were between 180 and 190k. Mr Barton pledged in court to pay the costs, then chose to argue that the figure was too high.

"Frustratingly, this meant I had to bring a separate action to recover my costs. The separate action also had a cost to it. Mr Barton surrendered on the main costs two days before the costs recovery action, but it was too late to avoid being liable for the costs recovery action."

Vine went on to explain what would happen should Barton not pay the money he owes and itemised the staggering bill the former footballer has to pay.

"So Barton paid for the libel. He paid the costs. He paid interest on the costs. He paid the cost of losing a challenge on the costs. And he paid his own costs, which will be more than mine because he had fancier lawyers. He has lost at least half a million pounds," Vine told his followers.

"BARTON’S BILL 110k — the libel. 160k — my costs. 3.6k — interest on costs. 43k — my costs recovery action. 200k — his costs. MINIMUM £516,600. People asked, ‘What if Barton refuses to pay, or can't pay?’ To ensure he had the funds, I had to commission legal searches on his house. He owns it outright. Lawyers advised me that if he did not pay, they could put a charge on his house.

"This would mean Mr Barton would effectively become my tenant, paying me rent to live there. If he fell behind with the rent, I would have the right to evict him or force the sale of his house to recoup my debt."

Vine concluded with: "I had no wish to be in that position and I am grateful to my lawyers in ensuring we got the final payments in today. My barrister is Gervase de Wilde @5RB and my solicitor is Judith Thompson, who specialises in online defamation. If you need her she is here: @devonsolicitors.

"I may return to this subject in due course but for now it is a relief just to be vindicated and to have the case settled so decisively. Thank-you for reading this, especially if you sent messages of support. JV."

In an agreed statement read out at the High Court in October last year, barrister Gervase de Wilde, for Vine, said that the broadcaster "was deeply alarmed, distressed and upset" by Barton’s actions, which included a "persistent and highly damaging campaign of defamation, harassment and misuse of private information".

Earlier this month, a specialist costs court heard that Barton had agreed to pay £160,000 of Vine’s costs from the main legal action. Costs Judge Colum Leonard also ordered Barton to pay a further £43,172.30 arising from the negotiation of the £160,000 figure, meaning he will pay a total of £203,172.30 of Vine’s costs following the legal action.

Lawyers for Vine told the High Court in May last year that Barton’s posts amounted to a "calculated and sustained attack". Barton – who played for teams including Manchester City, Newcastle United, Rangers, and French side Marseille during his career – also began using "#bikenonce" on X, which led to it trending on the platform.

After Mrs Justice Steyn ruled that some of the posts could defame Vine, Barton apologised to the journalist in June last year, stating that the allegations he made were "untrue".

He said that he would pay Vine £75,000 in damages, but solicitors for Vine later said Barton would pay a further £35,000 as part of a "separate settlement"for claims published after legal action began.

Mr De Wilde told the October hearing that Barton made four undertakings as part of the settlement, including not to harass Vine or encourage others to do so. Vine said following that hearing that Barton "needs to find himself a different hobby".

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