Leicester City defender Danny Simpson is facing jail after he was found guilty by a court of throttling the mother of his child following a drunken tiff.
The former Manchester United player, 28, was found 'straddling' his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Ward with both hands around her throat when police arrived at her house following a 999 call.
Officers who swooped to the scene in Worsley, Greater Manchester, reported hearing shouting from the home and then a 'choking' sound before finding Miss Ward gasping for breath as she was throttled by Simpson.
The Leicester City right-back - a former boyfriend of singer and former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos - had to be dragged off Miss Ward by an officer and handcuffed, while she was left 'crying hysterically and cowering' in the corner of the living room.
As Simpson was led away, he shouted, 'Steph, tell them I didn't do anything'.
The former Newcastle United player shook his head as he was found guilty of one count of assault by beating following the incident at around 1.30am on December 29 last year. Manchester District Judge Alexandra Simmons rejected his account as 'unworthy of belief'. He will be sentenced next month.
Simpson said the pair had gone out for a Chinese meal in Manchester city centre after he had starred in Leicester City's 1-0 win at relegation rivals Hull City on December 28. They drunk red wine with their food and went for further drinks in a hotel bar, it was said.
Miss Ward and Simpson, who had been in an on/off relationship for eight years, were said to be separated but on good terms since spending Christmas day together as a family for the sake of their three-year-old daughter.
But tempers flared when she accused him of texting another woman while they were still together and they continued arguing in a taxi back to the home he bought for Miss Ward and their daughter.
Police were called after a frantic eight-minute long 999 call which was played to the court where the pair can be heard arguing.
Miss Ward can be heard shouting, 'get off me, get off me', while Simpson accuses her of being drunk and 'a slag'.
The largely inaudible call ends with Simpson telling Miss Ward he is 'bleeding', after the sounds of a struggle.
In evidence, Simpson said the argument recorded during the 999 call had become more heated when he demanded Miss Ward return a pair of expensive shoes he had given to her as a Christmas present.
However, Simpson denied throttling her and said he had been standing up and arguing with Miss Ward when he was dragged to the floor from behind by PC Gareth Hughes.
PC Hughes, the first officer to arrive at the house, said: "I could hear screams and crying and then silence. I could then hear a choking sound.
"I entered the house through a small hallway and to my right I could instantly see a small female lying in a prone position facing up. She was about three metres away from me.
"I saw a male who I now know to be Daniel Simpson straddling across her with his hands firmly placed around her neck. He was sitting on her on his knees. I initially heard choking when in entered the room.
"He had both hands around her throat. He seemed startled by my sudden presence. I had to drag him by his arm. I then arrested him on suspicion of assault and he angrily demanded that the female didn't say anything and he said, 'tell them I wasn't doing anything', which was more of a demand."
Miss Ward, who gave an account to officers at the scene, later withdrew her statement and did not support the prosecution.
PC Platt, who arrived at the scene once Simpson had been restrained, said: "She [Miss Ward] was in the lounge behind us. She was hysterical and sobbing. She was literally bent double, sobbing into her knees and cowering."
Giving evidence, Simpson said: "As a mum and dad if we can be amicable for our little girl we want to be. We opened presents together as a family on Christmas Day and it was nice. I had a game on the 28th so I said we could go for dinner and she could get a babysitter.
"We had a bottle of wine with the meal and then in the hotel bar we ordered drinks but didn't drink them. I wouldn't say I was drunk, but I was tipsy.
"We were arguing over nothing. It was over some messages years ago. I also spent a lot of money on her Christmas present on shoes for her and I was saying I wanted them back. From me trying to get the shoes I took a hit off her. I remember her foot kick at me as I was grabbing the shoes."
Asked by his solicitor Sean Minihan whether he strangled Miss Ward at all, Simpson replied: "No. It was a matter of seconds and I was on the floor face down."
He added: "I didn't think she deserved she shoes. She was on the sofa and I was trying to get them off her."
But in finding him guilty, District Judge Simmons said Simpson sounded 'aggressive and domineering' in the 999 call and she had no reason to doubt the account given by PC Hughes. "I reject your account as unworthy of belief," she said.
"PC Hughes has no reason to lie. Therefore the defendant is guilty of assault by grabbing Miss Ward around the throat and throttling her.
"I take the view this is a serious matter, aggravated by being in domestic context. I take the view it does pass the custody threshold. She is vulnerable because of the personal context and to strangle someone is akin to using a weapon.
"All sentencing options, including custody, remain open."
