Former footballer Joey Barton pushed a woman to the floor before headbutting her during a drunken row at their family home, a court heard.
Georgia Barton was left with a lump on her forehead and a bloody nose after the alleged attack.
Friends were forced to intervene in an argument between the couple – pulling Barton away from his wife, prosecutors say.
The former City and QPR midfielder, 42, is accused of assaulting Georgia Barton, 38, in Kew, south-west London, in June 2021, where they were drinking with two other couples while their children slept upstairs.
The row began after Barton threatened to fight his wife's brother and father, Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Barton told the court he admitted getting into an argument with his wife but denied anything “physical” had happened.
“There was a verbal disagreement over a family matter,” said prosecutor Helena Duong.
Barton – who appeared in court wearing a dark coat, dark jumper, jeans and glasses – grabbed and pushed her to the ground and hit her in the head,” Ms Duong said.
As the friend tried to intervene, Barton “threw him down” and said “don't disrespect me”, the trial heard.
Mrs Barton called police shortly after 11pm to “report that she had been hit by her husband”, the court heard.
The pair had drunk “four or five bottles of wine”, a previous hearing was told.
During the 999 call played to Court, a tearful Mrs Barton said of the call handler: “My husband just hit the house.
“He's in the house, I'm out.”
Asked if something like this had happened before, she said, “No, it's the first time,” adding that she had been shot “in the face.”
When the police arrived at about 11.30, Mrs Barton told them: “I was pushed and punched and stuff.
“He said he would fight my brother and my father.”
The officer asked Ms Barton if she wanted to use an ice pack for “bumps” on her head, the court heard.
Barton was arrested around midnight in his bedroom, where he was sleeping, and was still drunk, the inquest heard.
He was taken to a local police station where he gave an interview for comments.
The couple are still married and living together, the court heard.
Giving evidence on Friday, Barton said he had spent “six to eight” with friends before arriving home at around 6.30pm.
“A few of our friends have entered into a disagreement,” he said.
.
“We just got into the small name.
“We ended up a little more upset and they were close to each other.”
Barton told the court a friend came between him and his wife to separate them, but denied anything “physical” had happened.
Mrs. Duong – Barton asked, “Are you someone who can lose your temper occasionally?”
“Yes,” replied the former footballer.
Asked if he had thrown the woman out, he said no, before adding: “If I had hit someone in the head, there would have been a lot more damage than what is alleged in this case.”
The former footballer, from Weenes in Cheshire, was due to stand trial at the magistrates' court in 2022, but the case was adjourned after Ms Barton sent a letter to prosecutors withdrawing their allegations.
In the letter, she said her injuries were caused by accident when a friend moved into the couple's separation.
“I'm not a victim … I want to move on with my life,” she said.
The judge then ordered the proceedings to be adjourned over concerns a trial would be unfair to Barton after prosecutors said they had no plans to ask Ms Barton to give evidence in court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Stephen Parkinson, appealed the decision at the High Court in London, with supporters claiming at the hearing that it could go ahead.
In June, two senior judges ruled in favor of the DPP and said Barton was to face trial on the allegations before a different judge.
Barton denies a single charge of assault by beating and the trial continues.
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