The Pompey defender was a key witness yet went on holiday just days before the trial was set to begin. Judge Mushtaq Khokhar claimed that Distin knew full well that he was supposed to appear in court despite the Frenchman denying any knowledge of being called up.
The court heard that Distin did not receive the letter informing him about the trial as he had transferred to Portsmouth and therefore moved to a new home. However, the court claims that when asked to return from his holiday, Sylvain simply laughed and said he wasn't going to turn up.
Richard Jory, Distin's lawyer, said: "He did not realise the full implications of his non-attendance. He is apologetic. There is no issue to the fact he did not attend."
Distin was ordered to pay £982.95 prosecution costs on top of his £2,000 fine, though Judge Khokhar warned that he may have faced a jail sentence if Barton did not change his plea to "Guilty".
So, folks, the lesson here is to make sure you always turn up to court when summoned unless you are a super-duper rich footballer in which case you can probably (quite literally) get away with murder!