🚨 UK SENTENCES JOEY BARTON OVER POSTS ON X — JUDGE SAYS FREE SPEECH STOPS WHERE “DISTRESS” BEGINSA UK court has handed former Premier League footballer Joey Barton a six-month prison sentence (suspended for 18 months) for offensive and racially aggravated posts on social media.The message from the bench?Your speech is free… until someone feels upset.The judge spelled it out:“Freedom of expression does not extend to targeted posts that cause distress.”And then, in a long lecture to Barton, the judge made clear the state alone defines what “distress” means:“Given the gravity, persistence, and impact of this offending, I have no doubt that neither a fine alone nor a community order can be justified.”“The custody threshold is crossed.”“There will be concurrent terms of imprisonment… reflecting your overall offending.”Only after acknowledging Barton’s attempts at rehabilitation did the judge step back from jailing him outright:“I am satisfied that it is not necessary for those custodial terms to be served immediately.”“A suspended sentence order may — may — operate as a deterrent against any future offending by you.”Finally, the sentencing:“Six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months… 200 hours of unpaid work… substantial costs… and restraining orders.”“This court hopes you will reflect on your conduct and take full advantage of the opportunity the suspended sentence provides.”Think about the precedent:A man almost went to prison because the government decided his posts “caused distress.”No objective standard.No clear definition.Just feelings — and state power.So again:Who determines what counts as ‘distress’?If a driver honks at someone and “distresses” them, is that criminal?If you criticize a politician and they feel “distressed,” is that jail time?When emotion becomes law, speech isn’t regulated