Joey Barton has been told to pay Eniola Aluko more than £300,000 in damages and legal costs after he was sued for libel.

Former England footballer and pundit Ms Aluko brought legal action against Barton over two posts he made in 2024 on social media site X.

On Tuesday, the High Court heard the case had been stayed, with Barton to pay "substantial" damages and Ms Aluko's legal costs.

Gervase de Wilde, for Ms Aluko, said that in the two X posts Barton had wrongly claimed she had "cynically sought to exploit her status as an alleged victim of racism and bullying", and that she was a hypocrite.

Barton - who managed Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers - did not attend the hearing, with Mr de Wilde telling the court that he "was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody".

The barrister said that between January and August 2024, Barton published 48 posts relating to Ms Aluko on his X account, adding that he had "carried out a deliberately targeted public campaign of vilification".

Mr de Wilde said one post included an image of Ms Aluko's head superimposed onto serial killer Rosemary West's body.

He continued: "The campaign amounted to an attack on multiple aspects of her life and personality."

"Mr Barton's campaign caused Ms Aluko enormous distress. When she sought to defend herself against Mr Barton's conduct, and that of his followers, he criticised and attacked her for doing so," he added.

Mr de Wilde said Ms Aluko was worried that however she tried to stop the harassment, Barton "would exploit and manipulate it to use against her".

The barrister continued: "Mr Barton has now accepted that his campaign against Ms Aluko amounted to harassment and that he should not have made the publications."

According to a court order seen by the Press Association, Barton has been told to pay £339,000 - with the first £100,000 plus interest due by March 24.

Mr Justice Lavender granted Barton seven days to ask to change the order.

Ms Aluko attended the London court on Tuesday and told PA after the hearing: "I'm glad it's the end."