A SHAMED Colchester United player has admitted spitting in his ex girlfriend's face and pulling her hair out during a violent confrontation.

James Hore

A SHAMED Colchester United player has admitted spitting in his ex girlfriend's face and pulling her hair out during a violent confrontation.

Jamie Guy attacked Ellysha Stephens during an early morning incident in front of shocked revellers at Liquid & Envy nightclub in the town's High Street.

Colchester Magistrates' Court was told yesterday that Guy - who earns �400 per week - plays “on his minor celebrity status” when out in the town and is “obnoxious and arrogant”.

It was the fourth set of court proceedings against the 22-year-old within the past two-and-a-half years following earlier charges for threatening behaviour, drink-driving and another public order offence.

Last night the U's new boss Aidy Boothroyd said the case was a “slap in the face” for Guy and said he would now deal with the matter within the club.

Miss Stephens, who has a 17-month-old son with the League One striker, phoned police shortly after midnight on August 25 saying she had been assaulted.

The pair had gone out on the town separately but Miss Stephens said she was unhappy when she spotted Guy in the club with a friend.

Matters “got out of hand” with Miss Stephens, also 22, attacking Guy who in turn called his partner of three years “a drama queen”.

The court heard that Guy spat in her face and pulled her around, causing clumps of hair to come out.

The incident was captured on CCTV and Guy was initially arrested by police, in another bar, on suspicion of assault.

Guy, who wore a smart pinstripe suit and open collar shirt for the brief hearing, pleaded guilty yesterday to using threatening behaviour.

District Judge David Cooper handed him a �350 fine, ordered him to pay costs of �85, a surcharge of �15 and told him to pay �100 compensation to Miss Stephens.

The former U's trainee spoke earlier this week about his hopes of a fresh start under the U's new manager.

And last night U's new boss Aidy Boothroyd told the EADT he was confident that his player would respond in the right way on the football pitch.

“Everybody is entitled to make a mistake but the ones that are persistent offenders are the ones that don't last very long.

“Jamie has stepped out of line before but I will deal with this internally and as far as I am concerned it is a 'slap in the face' for him to wake up and get on with his career.

“In this particular case he has done wrong and he knows he has done wrong and we have to move on,” the former Watford manager said.

Guy, of Mill Street, Colchester, pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour following a kebab shop confrontation with a 17-year-old in May 2007, was hit with a �500 fine, and his behaviour was branded “bullying”.

Then a year later he downed four bottles of beer at a neighbours' barbeque before getting behind the wheel of his car.

He was caught by police and banned from the roads for a year for drink-driving.

And on same the day as his drink-drive sentencing, he was also fined �100 for a public order offence after admitting in court to “play” fighting with a friend in the Britannica Car Park in St Botolph's Street on May 9.

Guy has spent time on loan at various clubs in recent seasons including Oxford United and Dagenham & Redbridge.

james.hore@eadt.co.uk