STATEMENT Thank-you for such kind messages about my libel action against Joey Barton. I can confirm it is now concluded and I am satisfied with the result. Mr Barton has now paid out more than half a million pounds in my case alone.

There seems to be some confusion about the stages of the case. The below is to explain the numbers. I have no further beef with Mr Barton, who has a series of ongoing legal problems to deal with. While defending my libel action, he also became a convicted wifebeater.

My damages in the case were £110,000. These were paid last year, and Mr Barton made the agreed public apology. But my costs in bringing the case were between 180 and 190k. Mr Barton pledged in court to pay the costs, then chose to argue that the figure was too high.

Frustratingly, this meant I had to bring a separate action to recover my costs. The separate action also had a cost to it. Mr Barton surrendered on the main costs two days before the costs recovery action, but it was too late to avoid being liable for the costs recovery action.

So Barton paid for the libel. He paid the costs. He paid interest on the costs. He paid the cost of losing a challenge on the costs. And he paid his own costs, which will be more than mine because he had fancier lawyers. He has lost at least half a million pounds.

BARTON’S BILL 110k — the libel. 160k — my costs. 3.6k — interest on costs. 43k — my costs recovery action. 200k — his costs. MINIMUM £516,600

People asked, ‘What if Barton refuses to pay, or can't pay?’ To ensure he had the funds, I had to commission legal searches on his house. He owns it outright. Lawyers advised me that if he did not pay, they could put a charge on his house.

This would mean Mr Barton would effectively become my tenant, paying me rent to live there. If he fell behind with the rent, I would have the right to evict him or force the sale of his house to recoup my debt.

I had no wish to be in that position and I am grateful to my lawyers in ensuring we got the final payments in today. My barrister is Gervase de Wilde @5RB Barristers and my solicitor is Judith Thompson, who specialises in online defamation. If you need her she is here: @Samuels Solicitors LLP

I may return to this subject in due course but for now it is a relief just to be vindicated and to have the case settled so decisively. Thank-you for reading this, especially if you sent messages of support. JV

Oh, I should have added: initially, I told Mr Barton that if he paid £10,000 total and deleted the tweets I'd forget the whole thing. It was him, not me, who decided to take the long road.