JOEY BARTON has revealed thugs threatened to "slash" him and "stab him in the a***" during his time in jail.
The ex-Manchester City star served 74 days of a sixth-month sentence in 2008 after pleading guilty to common assault and affray.
Now managing League One side Bristol Rovers, Barton has opened up on what life was like for him behind bars.
The 39-year-old also shed light on the struggles he has had with mental health over the years, and his experiences with battling depression.
During his time in jail, which he served after pleading guilty to common assault and affray following an incident in Liverpool City Centre in 2007, Barton admitted he was frightened to be where he was.
When asked if he was scared, Barton told Men's Health: "Oh yeah, of course.
"You’re walking across the yard and people are shouting out the window, ‘I’m gonna slash you, I’m gonna stab you in the a***.’
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"I mean, it’s a bit different to being out on the pitch and having a fan shouting, ‘Hey, you’re s****.’
"Then your mind starts reliving American prison movies. You think all sorts of mad stuff is going to happen.
"But then you realise people are people."
Former Newcastle midfielder Barton revealed that the answer to dealing with the other prisoners is working out the hierarchy behind bars, and not messing with it.
He said: "The key thing is to establish the hierarchy and work out where you sit."
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The one-cap international spoke of sitting in a "safe zone" to make sure he didn't mess with hierarchy of the prison and the dangerous people that are locked up behind bars.
He said: "I sat in a safe zone as much as I could. You needed to make sure people knew no one could take you on, but you’re not running any syndicates on the wing.
"You keep your head down, get in and out as quick as you can and reflect on the patterns that got you there.
"I went in feeling very sorry for myself but that changed."
Barton spent time behind bars during his four-year spell with Newcastle.
Since hanging up his boots Barton has managed Fleetwood, before moving on to current club Bristol Rovers, who he guided to promotion from League Two last season.
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