Pop star Dane Bowers has narrowly avoided jail for assaulting his glamour model ex-girlfriend at their home in South Croydon.

The former Another Level singer, 36, was handed a suspended 20-week prison term today after being convicted of punching and throttling Sophia Cahill.

He launched into a "sustained" 30-to-45-minute attack on January 29 in their house in Kingswood Way after Miss Cahill, the former Miss Wales, confronted him about glitter on his face following a night out.

The assault left her bruised and in need of counselling, Croydon Magistrates' Court heard.

In a victim impact statement read out in court by prosecutor Abigail Welsh, the "vulnerable" Miss Cahill said she had suffered "different levels of emotional stress and confusion" since the assault.

She feared being assaulted again and lost a baby in March, "which could be down to stress", the court heard.

Miss Cahill said: “I made mistakes such as believing Dane when he said he would change and seriously considered taking him back."

She said she felt “stupid, guilty and vulnerable” and is “consumed with shame, guilt and low self-esteem”

She added: "I just want him to leave me alone. I don't want any contact from him at all, not even a full-stop."

John Blandford, representing Bowers, accused Miss Cahill of "exaggerating" the effects of the attack.

He added: "Their relationship was definitely in its descent, it was tempestuous, but it was not previously violent."

Bowers had "suffered more than the average defendant" from his conviction because of his fame, claimed his lawyer.

Mr Blandford said: "His image, his career. He's an entertainer."

District judge Andrew Sweet, acknowledging the impact jail would have on Bowers' career, spared him an immediate custodial sentence.

He said: “Miss Cahill had to attend court and relive the events of January 29.

“This was a sustained assault over some period of time.

“There were clearly difficulties in the relationship but you have difficulties controlling your anger.

“This offence passes the custody threshold. I’m going to suspend that imprisonment because the impact of imprisonment would be considerable."

The judge sentenced Bowers to 20 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months.

He ordered Bowers to pay a total of £800 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge.