Former Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe pulled a braid out of his ex-girlfriend’s hair during an argument where she called him a “druggy”.
Ibe, 30, assaulted his former partner Amie Mayson outside her home in Lambeth, south London, on 14 December.
The attack happened after she confronted him and demanded he repaid her money she said he owed her, Croydon Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday.
Prosecutor Aya Alshekhili said that after Ms Mayson asked to be reimbursed, Ibe told her: “No, I’m going to be a prick.”
Ibe had a bag containing drinks, snacks and flowers, but when she called him a “druggy” he grabbed her arm “hard” and then grabbed her hair, the court was told.
The footballer, who made 58 appearances for the Anfield side before spells at Derby County, Birmingham City and AFC Bournemouth, pulled a braid from Ms Mayson’s hair, the court heard.
On Friday, magistrate Brij Kalia sentenced Ibe to a 12-month community order, 80 hours of unpaid work and 27 days of rehabilitation activity.
Ibe was also handed a £764 fine, including £114 of surcharge and £650 in court costs.
The footballer, who represented himself at the hearing wearing a black coat and black trousers, told the court: “I made a serious mistake.”
He added: “I understand it is wrong. I am genuinely remorseful. I’ve had to look at myself in the mirror. I cannot change what I did but will take responsibility for what I do next.”
Ms Alshekhili said the attack left Ms Mayson’s confidence, self-esteem and self-worth “on the floor”.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Mayson said: “I want the court to understand the impact that this incident has had.
“The assault has had a significant impact on me both physically and mentally.”
She said despite remaining “feelings of fear”, she felt “compassion” for Ibe, adding forgiveness had been part of her “healing journey”.
Ibe, of Chislehurst, south-east London, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in July, after denying it in March.
On Friday, Ms Alshekhili said that prior to the assault the pair had been on an “on and off” relationship since late 2024.
The former England under-21 international played for Lokomotiv Sofia in the Bulgarian First League until June.
In the last two years, he had been playing non-league football before securing the move to the Bulgarian capital in November 2025.
