Premier league star Danny Simpson has been told he could go to prison after being dragged off the mother of his child by police who walked in on him strangling her.

Ex-Manchester United defender Simpson had spent Christmas with his former girlfriend Stephanie Ward and their young daughter a court heard, despite splitting from her months earlier.

However, he turned violent and attacked her after a night out just hours after he had played for his current club Leicester City.

The pair, who had both been drinking after having a meal and drinks, rowed over him supposedly texting another girl whilst they were together, a judge was told.

Police received a 999 call just after 1.30am in the early hours of December 29 from Ms Ward in which she could heard sobbing and screaming.

She could be heard bellowing ‘get off me’ during the eight minute call which was played at the 28 year-old’s trial.

Simpson could also be heard aggressively saying that she was drunk and calling her a ‘slag’ during the largely inaudible call.

Officers arrived a short time later at the house which Simpson bought for her, with one saying he could hear Ms Ward screaming as soon as he got out of the van.

PC Gareth Hughes said that as he approached the house in Worsley, Salford, the screaming stopped and changed to the sound of “someone gasping for breath and struggling to breath.”

He told the court he found Simpson in the living room, next to the Christmas tree, knelt over Ms Ward “straddling her with his hands firmly around her throat.”

The court heard Simpson, who lives in Eccles, had no idea she had rang the police and was “startled” when they burst in.

The officer grabbed hold of the former Newcastle full-back by his arm, before restraining and handcuffing so he could be taken to Swinton police station.

He pleaded not guilty to assault at an earlier hearing at Manchester Magistrates court.

Giving evidence at his trial, Simpson, who said he was tipsy and not drunk, denied laying hands on her.

He admitted the pair, who he said had been in an on-and-off relationship for nine years, had argued and that he had tried to take back an expensive pair of shoes he had bought her for Christmas as he “didn’t think she deserved them.”

However, he said he was simply stood over her as she sat on the sofa.

He said: “Like any relationship, we had our problems but we got on the best we could.

“And it was nice being together as a family again and our daughter had a nice time.

“It was an argument over nothing, about me messaging someone years ago.

“I never grabbed hold of her at any time.

“I was getting more and confused as I didn’t know why she was saying that (‘get off me’).

“The next thing I knew, I had been taken down.”

However, District Judge Alexandra Simmons rejected his account saying it was “unworthy of belief.”

She said: “This is a serious matter aggravated by the fact it was in a domestic setting.

“In my view, strangling or throttling someone is akin to using a weapon.”

The case was adjourned until June 29 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report with District Judge Simmons warning Simpson: “All options remain open, including custody.”

Simpson came through United’s youth system and was given his debut by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2006.

However, he failed to establish himself in the team and after numerous loan spells he joined Newcastle permanently in 2010 where he made more than 100 appearances.

He later joined QPR in 2013 before a move to his current club Leicester, after their promotion to the Premier League, last summer.

If you or anyone you know needs help, free call the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247 or online here.

Always call 999 in an emergency.