A FORMER Colchester United player has dodged jail for the last time after barging into a home and pushing his partner to the ground while their 15-month-old son was asleep upstairs.

"Monster" Jamie Guy, who has a history of violent convictions against women, was drunk when lost his temper after an argument over his refusal to take his partner to a hospital appointment.

When he arrived home from a drinking session, the front door was secured by its chain so he forced his way in and pushed the woman to the ground, causing her to bang her head.

The couple's 15-month-old son was asleep upstairs and heard the shouting.

Hod carrier Guy, of Roach Vale, Colchester, left the house but arrived back later to collect some of his belongings, which led to his partner and son "cowering" in the locked bathroom.

Sentencing dad-of-two Guy, Judge Patricia Lynch labelled him a "disgrace" and handed him a four-month prison sentence for common assault, suspended for one year.

She said: "It seems to me this is a case of a 28-year-old man who, when he drinks, loses his temper and becomes violent and damages property in the presence of his own tiny child.

"He knows full well he should not drink."

Talking directly to Guy, Judge Lynch said: "Don't drink. Grow up."

She added: "His partner and child were terrified because of his drunken, violent behaviour.

"They were cowering in the bathroom when police eventually arrived.

"He knows he becomes a monster when he drinks and he knows if he does it again, he is going inside."

Chelmsford Crown Court heard Guy had at least two previous convictions for violence against women, which saw him spit in the face of a former partner and drag a former partner around a nightclub by her hair.

Judge Lynch added: "You had absolutely no qualms about going back to the house knowing your tiny child was there.

"What does that make you? A disgrace.

"You know that no man should ever raise his hand to a woman and no man should ever put the most precious thing in his life, his child, in fear."

The incident took place inside a home in Baddow Road, in Chelmsford on January 23.

Any breach of the suspended sentence has been reserved to Judge Lynch.

Guy played more than 50 times for Colchester United FC between 2004 and 2010, scoring three goals.

He has also played for the now defunct Tiptree United, Grays Athletic, Braintree Town, Witham Town, Maldon and Tiptree, Billericay Town and Brentwood Town.