Joey Barton tweets his role in catching burglar

Newcastle United midfielder tells how he disturbed burglar after hearing noise at neighbour's house
Joey Barton
Joey Barton playing for Newcastle United. The midfielder took to Twitter to describe his role in catching a burglar. Photograph: Paul Mcfegan/Sportsphoto/Allstar Paul Mcfegan/Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar

Premier League footballer Joey Barton has told how he helped police to catch a burglar.

The midfielder, beloved by the majority of Newcastle United's Toon Army and hated by thousands of fans of other clubs, told his 380,000-plus Twitter followers on Sunday how he heard a noise at a neighbour's house.

He wrote: "5.26am, was awoken by a banging sound, burglar attempting to break in to neighbours house … Needless to say he was disturbed and apprehended … He was so subtle he attempted to put a massive log through the window in broad daylight."

It was reported that police viewed CCTV footage taken from Barton's home in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, to identify the would-be thief.

Northumbria police said: "Police received reports of a disturbance at an address in Jesmond. At around 6am, police attended the scene where a window had been broken.

"Officers searched the area and a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary."