Former Liverpool winger pulled a braid from ex-girlfriend’s head, court told

Prosecutors said Jordan Ibe had a bag containing drinks, snacks, and flowers, but when his partner threw muffins on the floor and called him a 'druggy, he grabbed her by her hair

Jordan Ibe made 41 appearances for Liverpool before spells at Derby County, Birmingham City, and AFC Bournemouth. File picture: Martin Rickett/PA

Former Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe pulled a braid out of his ex-girlfriend’s head during an argument, a court has heard.

Ibe, aged 30, assaulted his former partner Amie Mayson outside her home in Lambeth, south London.

Croydon Magistrates’ Court heard Ibe and Mayson were arguing on December 14 when Mayson confronted Ibe and demanded he repay 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 Ibe a “druggy”, he grabbed her by her hair.

The footballer, who made 41 appearances for the Anfield side before spells at Derby County, Birmingham City, and AFC Bournemouth, pulled a braid from Mayson’s head and she was left with a bald patch, the court was told.

In a victim impact statement from February, read to the court on Tuesday, Mayson said the attack deeply affected her confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth.

“Looking in the mirror is very distressing for me, the injury is a constant reminder of what happened and often leaves me feeling emotionally drained and upset,” she said in the statement.

Ibe, who wore a black jacket and black trousers in the dock, spoke to confirm his personal details and to change his plea to guilty, having denied the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in March.

He apologised for getting his postcode slightly wrong, telling the court: “Sorry, I’m a bit nervous.” 

The former England U21 international now plays for Lokomotiv Sofia in the Bulgarian First League.

He appeared 92 times for Bournemouth between 2016 and 2020.

In the last two years he had been playing non-league football before securing the move to the Bulgarian capital in November 2025.

District Judge Polly Gledhill told the court: “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” with probation as possible ahead of his sentencing.

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

Judge Gledhill told Ibe, who lives between Chislehurst, south-east London, and Bulgaria, he will be sentenced at the same court on September 4.