Footballer pulled braid out of woman's head

A footballer has pleaded guilty to assault after pulling a braid out of his ex-girlfriend's head during an argument.

Former Bournemouth and Liverpool player Jordon Ibe, 30, assaulted his former partner Amie Mayson outside her home in Lambeth, south London, in December.

The former England under-21 international, from Chislehurst, south-east London, changed his plea to guilty, having denied the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in March.

Croydon Magistrates' Court heard Ibe pulled a braid from Ms Mayson's head, leaving her with a bald patch.

They were arguing on 14 December when Mayson confronted Ibe and demanded he repaid her money she said he owed her.

Prosecutors said Ibe had a bag containing drinks, snacks and flowers, but when Mayson threw muffins on the floor and called him a "druggy" he grabbed her by her hair.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, she said the attack deeply affected her confidence, self-esteem and self-worth.

"Looking in the mirror is very distressing for me," she said.

"The injury is a constant reminder of what happened and often leaves me feeling emotionally drained and upset."

The footballer joined Liverpool in 2012, making 58 appearances in all competitions, before spells at Derby County, Birmingham City and 92 appearances for AFC Bournemouth between 2016 and 2020.

The winger played two years of non-league football before moving to his current team, Lokomotiv Sofia, in the Bulgarian First League in November 2025.

The Metropolitan Police previously said he was arrested at Luton Airport on 30 January.

Ibe spoke in court to confirm his personal details and to change his plea to guilty.

District Judge Polly Gledhill said: "We are in community order territory and I am going to ask for a pre-sentence report. I am not ruling anything out."

She urged Ibe to be "as honest and open" as possible with probation ahead of his sentencing.

He was bailed with conditions not to contact Mayson or to go to her address.

He will be sentenced on 4 September.

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