Joey Barton charged after assault near golf club

Former footballer Joey Barton and a second suspect have been charged after a man was assaulted near a golf club.

It happened on Sunday at 21:00 GMT in Fairway, near Huyton and Prescot Golf Club on Merseyside.

Officers arrived at the scene and found a man with injuries to his face and ribs, Merseyside Police said.

Barton, 43, of Widnes, and Gary O'Grady, 50, of Huyton, are due to appear at Wirral Magistrates Court later after being charged with section 18 wounding with intent.

The victim is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

At a High Court hearing earlier over a libel claim involving Barton, Gervase de Wilde, representing ex-England footballer Eni Aluko, said his instructing solicitor had "received a call from a duty solicitor in a police station in Liverpool" shortly before the hearing.

Mr de Wilde told the court that Barton "was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody".

Barton played for clubs including Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Rangers.

The midfielder then moved into management after his retirement from playing football in 2017.

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