Boxing champion is freed after winning appeal over six-month jail term for breaking into his ex-girlfriend's flat and telling her 'he was going to kill her the Irish way' 

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Boxing champion Jamie Cox has won his appeal over his six-month jail term for breaking into his ex-girlfriend's flat and telling her he was going to 'kill her the Irish way'.

The 29-year-old WBO European super middleweight title-holder sent up to 600 abusive texts a day to Viktoria Gribovskaja, some of which called her a sl*t and a whore.

He also threatened to send nude pictures of her to her family before forcing his way into her south London flat.

Jailed: Champion boxer Jamie Cox (left) was sentenced to six months in prison after telling his exotic dancer ex-girlfriend Viktoria Gribovskaja (right) he was 'going to kill her the Irish way' as he broke into her flat

Cox, whose real name is Jamie Russan, admitted breaking into the flat in July 2015, but said he was worried that his ex-girlfriend had taken her own life - an account rejected by magistrates last month.

He claimed he'd driven from Birmingham to London just days before a European title fight to end the relationship and collect his things.

At Croydon Magistrates Court last month Cox was given a 26-week jail term for assault, using violence to secure entry, harassment and criminal damage.

However, he appealed that decision and his sentence has today been suspended at Croydon Crown Court. 

Cox, 29, stood quietly in the dock as Mr Recorder Joseph Boothby told him he should treat the suspended sentence as 'a turning point'.

In suspending the sentence, the judge told Cox: 'Change your ways and think before you get angry with a girlfriend or anyone else for that matter.

'It was a close-run thing.'

The judge noted that Ms Gribovskaja had insisted that Cox had tried to strangle her. Cox denied it had happened. 

Cox, whose real name is Jamie Russan, admitted breaking into the flat in July 2015, but said he was worried that his ex-girlfriend had taken her own life - an account rejected by magistrates

His mother Belinda Russen, 49, was elated as she went to collect her son from HMP Highdown. 

Miss Russen said: 'It's all I wanted, for the truth to be told and that's what we got today and justice was done.

'I knew my son never laid a hand on her.

'Common sense tells you if he he had got his hands on her she would have had marks on her.

'If I'm honest, I'm relieved she's out of his life.

'We are now going for a big meal to fill him back up. He's looking in good shape but needs a bit of food in him.'

Cox lost his father, Anthony Russen, aged just 46, in 2012. He trains in Birmingham during the week but returns to Swindon, Wiltshire, to live with his mother and sister at the weekends.

His mother added: 'He's very much a gentle, loving guy.

'Since his father's death he's been very protective over me, his sister and his brother. He's always watching out for us.

'It's like he's taken the role on of his father, making sure we are okay financially. Without my son I would have lost our house.' 

His trainer, John Costello, was 'elated' at the news and said he would be taking him for a steak tonight to help rebuild his strength.

Mr Costello said: 'Everybody is elated. We are happy that the charge was finally heard by someone with an understanding of the law.

'We were convinced from Day One he would be acquitted. The only thing we regret is not taking the trial to Crown Court in the first place.

'I'm going to take him for the biggest steak on the planet.

'Jamie was in fantastic condition when he went in and he's been exercising every day, but he said it's just the grub that's been a problem.

'He said it's a lot of processed, vile stuff and he's been struggling with it.' 

Cox, who is currently ranked number four in the world and has fighting weight to 12 stone, is also a Commonwealth Games light welterweight champion.

He had been earmarked to appear on the bill of the much-anticipated world heavyweight rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko in July.

Cox is a 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and is undefeated in his 20-fight career. Cox said last month that the prospect of a conviction could dash his hopes of a world title fight he said was looming