Jeremy Vine sues Joey Barton for calling him a 'big bike nonce' - as the ... trends now
Jeremy Vine is suing Joey Barton after the loudmouth ex-footballer called him a 'big bike nonce' in a social media outburst.
The BBC 2 presenter has filed a libel claim at the High Court against the former Manchester City player.
Mr Vine, 58, says after he was called the term on X, millions of people have read the post which accused him of having a 'sexual interest in children'.
Lawyers for the journalist told the High Court their client is bringing defamation and harassment claims against the former Bristol Rovers manager.
Gervase De Wilde KC, acting for Mr Vine said: 'I don't propose to open the case, but Mr Barton has been publicising this case inaccurately on his X account.
Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine (pictured outside London's High Court) filed a defamation claim and is suing Joey Barton
Joey Barton (pictured) is facing a libel action after calling Mr Vine a 'big bike nonce' in a post on social media
'Could we make clear this is a defamation and harassment case over publications by Mr Barton which have reached millions of readers, which said he had a sexual interest in children.
'Mr Barton's publications were made on X, branding Mr Vine a "nonce" and, in a number of instances, adding colour to this allegation by comparing Mr Vine to high profile predatory celebrity paedophiles and suggesting that the police should be contacted about his proximity to children.
'Mr Vine contends that the publication of this term, and related words and images, bears a seriously defamatory meaning of him, to the effect that he has a sexual interest in children.'
Mr Barton, 41, used the term 'nonce' to describe Mr Vine in posts on X between January 6 and January 11, and refers to notorious paedophiles including Rolf Harris and Jimmy Savile.
He also mentions Phillip Schofield, the former TV presenter whose career collapsed when it was revealed he was having an affair with a younger male employee.
One post by Barton read: 'Oh Jeremy Vine. Did you, Rolf-aroo and Schofield go out on a tandem bike ride? You big bike nonce ya!'
Mr Vine is seen arriving at London's High Court on Thursday afternoon for the first hearing in the libel claim brought by himself against Joey Barton
The posts made by Barton have been seen millions of times on X, formerly Twitter
In a separate Tweet he added: 'If you see this fella by a primary school call 999'.
Mr De Wilde added: 'The fact that Mr
