PREMIERSHIP footballer Joey Barton was cleared yesterday of criminal damage.

The Newcastle United midfielder, 25, was found not guilty at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court of vandalising a taxi after a night out in March last year.

Barton, of Foxbank Close, Widnes, who was last week jailed for six months for admitting assault and affray, left court to return to prison after a half-day trial.

The Crown alleged that the player was with his cousin Joshua Wilson, 19, in the taxi in the early hours of March 4 when things turned nasty at a McDonald's in Liverpool.

Prosecutor Robert Jansen said when the driver, Michael Kay, refused to queue at a drive-through, Barton became aggressive.

A row broke out, Mr Kay refused to take the men on to their destination and Barton ripped out the cabbie’s radio, it was claimed.

But the fingerprints on the smashed screen were not Barton’s, and yesterday his cousin admitted in court that he had caused the damage.

It took magistrates just 15 minutes to acquit the former Manchester City player. Hearing the verdict, Barton, who is already serving six months in jail for assault and affray, said: “Thank you,” and then smiled at his father.

Barton, dressed in a Ralph Lauren jumper and blue jeans, chatted and giggled with his female guard in the dock while the case proceeded.

He is in court in Manchester next month to stand trial accused of assaulting former Manchester City team mate Ousmane Dabo, 31, who now plays for Lazio, in Italy.