Former Premier League footballer Jordon Ibe has received a community sentence after admitting to assaulting his ex-partner during a heated dispute in south London last year.

Appearing before Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, the ex-Liverpool and Bournemouth player confirmed his guilt to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, reversing his earlier not-guilty plea entered back in March.

According to details presented in court, the altercation took place in December outside the Lambeth residence of Amie Mayson, during which Ibe pulled out a section of her braided hair, resulting in a visible bald patch on her scalp.

Standing without legal representation, Ibe addressed the court directly, calling the incident a “serious mistake” and voicing genuine regret over his conduct, stating that he had reflected deeply on what happened and was committed to taking accountability going forward.

Magistrate Brij Kalia handed down a 12-month community order, requiring Ibe to complete 80 hours of unpaid community work alongside 27 days of rehabilitation activities.

He was additionally ordered to pay £764, covering a £114 victim surcharge and £650 in court costs.

Court proceedings revealed that the confrontation stemmed from an ongoing dispute over money Mayson claimed Ibe owed her, with the situation escalating after she threw food at him and made a derogatory remark, prompting him to grab her hair.

Mayson’s victim statement described lasting effects on her mental and emotional wellbeing, though she also expressed that extending forgiveness toward Ibe had become an important part of her recovery process.

Ibe, now playing in Bulgaria after stints across multiple English clubs, was arrested at Luton Airport in January.