Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has been sentenced to six months in jail for assault and affray. Barton, 25, reportedly punched a man up to twenty times and broke a sixteen year old teenager's teeth in an incident that occurred in Liverpool on December 27, 2007. Barton's brother Andrew, and his cousin Nadine Wilson, who were also present at the scene, pleaded guilty to their role in the assault. Andrew was jailed for four months, suspended for two years while Nadine received a six month sentence, suspended for two years. Barton was also ordered to pay £2,500 to Jordan Spencer, the boy whose teeth he broke.

Barton has a history of violent behaviour, both on and off the football pitch. He was signed from Manchester City for a fee of £5.8 million in June 2007 by then manager Sam Allardyce. Current Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan, who saw Barton grow as a teenager at City, has vowed to stand by him.

Barton is not the only footballer to have been jailed. He joins Jermaine Pennant, Duncan Ferguson, Marlon King, Tony Adams and others in a fairly long list of players to have served prison sentences.