Premiership footballer Joey Barton will spend New Year behind bars after being refused bail on charges of common assault and affray.

The 25-year-old Newcastle United and England midfielder was remanded in custody after being arrested in Liverpool on Thursday following an incident in the city centre.

Barton appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court for a bail hearing, but was already on bail for two other separate offences.

Magistrate Carol Myers said there was a substantial risk of Barton offending again because the new offences took place while on bail.

She added: "I also have to consider the safety of the public - you lashed out indiscriminately."

The 25-year-old, from Widnes, Cheshire, appeared alongside two others charged in connection with the same incident.

Andrew Barton, 19, from Widnes, is charged with actual bodily harm and affray and has been released on bail.

Nadine Wilson, 27, from Huyton, Merseyside, is charged with common assault and affray and was released on bail.

The footballer, who grew up in Huyton, signed for Newcastle from Manchester City this summer in a £5.8 million deal.

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