BBC presenter Jeremy Vine has delivered dramatic testimony in the High Court, revealing he genuinely feared for his physical safety after former footballer Joey Barton branded him a "paedophile" online.
In a packed courtroom, the veteran broadcaster described how Barton's relentless social media campaign created what he called a "perfect storm" of abuse that left him concerned about potential violence from the former Manchester City midfielder's followers.
'I feared someone might act on his words'
Vine told the court he believed Barton's millions of social media followers included "some very angry men" who might be motivated to act on the footballer's inflammatory posts. The 59-year-old presenter became visibly emotional as he described the impact of being falsely accused of being a paedophile.
"When you're called a paedophile online by someone with a large platform, you don't know where that's going to go," Vine stated during cross-examination. He emphasised that Barton's substantial following gave the allegations dangerous weight far beyond typical online spats.
The social media storm that sparked legal action
The court heard how Barton launched a series of vicious attacks against Vine earlier this year, including one post where he directly called the broadcaster a "paedophile" while referencing non-existent "hard drives."
Vine's legal team argued these posts weren't just offensive banter but constituted serious defamation with potentially dangerous real-world consequences. The broadcaster described how the abuse escalated from criticism of his cycling habits to the most serious of criminal allegations.
A landmark case for online behaviour
This high-profile libel case is being closely watched as a potential watershed moment for celebrity social media conduct in the UK. Legal experts suggest it could set important precedents for how courts handle online abuse between public figures.
Barton, who now works as a pundit, maintains his posts were "banter" and denies they were defamatory. The case continues with further testimony expected this week as both legal teams present their arguments.
