Daily Mail
May 22, 2015
Footballer Danny Simpson could face jail after he was found guilty of throttling the mother of his child in a drunken row, a court heard.
The Leicester City defender, the ex-boyfriend of popstar Tulisa, was ‘straddling’ his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Ward with both hands around her throat when police arrived at her house following a 999 call, magistrates were told.
The court heard the couple had begun to argue over Simpson texting other girls
But the row erupted into violence after he demanded Miss Ward return a pair of expensive shoes he had given to her as a Christmas present.
Giving evidence, Simpson said: ‘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 when officers arrived at the scene in Worsley, Manchester, they reported hearing shouting from the home and then a ‘gurgling’ sound before finding Miss Ward gasping for breath as she was throttled by Simpson, prosecutors said.