Overview

• Costs Judge Colum Leonard ordered Barton to cover £160,000 of Vine’s main legal costs plus £43,172.30 for protracted negotiations, totalling £203,172.30.
• The ruling follows Barton’s 2024 apology on X and a £110,000 damages payment after Mrs Justice Steyn found some of his posts potentially defamatory.
• High Court filings showed Barton’s online posts falsely labelled Vine a “big bike nonce” and “pedo defender,” prompting the defamation and harassment suit.
• As part of last year’s settlement Barton agreed four undertakings barring further harassment or encouragement of others to harass Vine.
• Neither Barton nor Vine attended Tuesday’s specialist costs hearing in London, with the judge relying solely on written submissions.