FORMER footballer Peter Beagrie's career as a Sky Sports TV soccer pundit is over after he was convicted of assaulting his partner.
The former Man City and Everton star hit his girlfriend and told her he would “rip her throat” out in a drunken row over whether he would marry her, a court heard.
The 51 year old had sunk six glasses of champagne and three gin and tonics before a row broke out with girlfriend Zarah Blake – who lived next door to him..
The former star described as “volatile and nasty”, ended up punching her 'two or three' times with his left fist, Skipton magistrates were told.
He was given a 12 months community order, 15 days of rehabilitation and ordered to pay prosecution and court costs of £710.
Sky Sports tonight said the former Premier League star had been removed from their coverage pending the outcome of the trial - but now his contract was terminated.
A spokesman said: "When we first became aware of the charge, we removed Peter from our coverage pending his case.
"Following the outcome we have terminated his contract with immediate effect."
The North Yorkshire court heard claims Beagrie regularly beat his partner of 15 months and had even threatened to kill her.
The magistrates dismissed two charges of assault from November last year after being hearing his partner had failed to attend court and had withdrawn her allegations.
But they decided a third charge from April this year - in which police found drunken Beagrie towering over his girlfriend and shouting in her face - should not be dropped.
Witnesses said that he was heard shouting at Ms Blake - who had a 1cm cut to her lip and bruising to her body – 'I'm going to rip your f**king throat out.”.
The court was told that the pair had gone out for a meal together and then on drinking at the Blue Bar in Harrogate, North Yorks.
Beagrie who pleaded not guilty to one charge of assault by beating, said the mood had turned sour in the bar when they started talking about marriage.
He said: "A conversation started up on when are we going to get married. "
“I said 'we both know that's not going to happen'…..and she slapped me across the face.
"It went from having a great time of celebration to a serious conversation that I didn't want to be having.”
He said she had stormed out of the bar unsteady on her feet.
He had rung her and he had found her at the flat of an American who worked at the top secret Menwith Hill listening base near Harrogate.
He said he had gone to the address and he described himself as “ridiculously upset and angry.”
But he denied assaulting by beating her, saying she fell backwards as he tried to lift her up and their heads clashed.
PC Crawford Evans who was called to the scene said said: "Mr Beagrie was towering over her and appeared to be shouting in her face.
"Miss Blake was visibly upset, she was crying and looked dishevelled.
"She appeared to be intoxicated. She said she'd been with Mr Beagrie for two years and that ‘he hits me all the time.’
"When I asked her where she had been hit she said all over and hand gestured towards her head and torso.
"She said he is volatile and nasty, he says he's going to kill me and that he hates me.
"She said that Mr Beagrie gets jealous and accuses her of flirting."
She told police: “Pete has got his problems. He is volatile and nasty and said he is going to kill me.”
But she refused to make a formal statement saying she didn't want her partner to get into trouble and said she still loved him.
Beagrie enjoyed a 23-year career playing for 10 clubs, including Bradford City, Everton, Manchester City and Scunthorpe United.
He retired in 2006 and in recent years has worked as a TV football pundit and commentator for Sky Sports.
Beagrie, of Harrogate,has three children with his late wife, Lynn, who died of cancer in 2015.
Magistrate Brian Hughes said of Beagrie: "I did not find his account to be credible".
"We are satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the assault took place, you are guilty of the assault."