LONDON (AFP) - Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton was jailed for six months Tuesday after admitting assault during a night out in Liverpool in December last year.

The 25-year-old England footballer appeared in court in the northwestern English city in March, after being arrested in the early hours of December 27 following an evening out with friends and family the night before.

He admitted the charges last month but his guilty plea could not be reported until Tuesday because of restrictions imposed by a judge at Liverpool Crown Court, where his sentence was handed down.

For several weeks after his initial arrest Barton came under the care of former England international Tony Adams's Sporting Chance clinic for his problems with alcohol as part of his strict bail conditions.

He returned to action with the northeast England Premier League club on January 29.

Barton was arrested along with his brother Andrew, 19 who was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and Nadine Wilson, 27, who was charged with common assault and affray.