A police sergeant who provided armed protection for Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair was today given a suspended jail sentence for a vicious attack on his ex-wife.

Patrick Byrne, 49, from Horley, who also guarded Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their 1981 honeymoon cruise, wept as a judge told him his good work record had saved him from being sent straight to prison.

Byrne had denied assault, claiming he was acting in self defence when he lashed out at the mother of his children, Sarah, also a police officer.

But he was convicted of assault by a jury at Lewes Crown Court after his wife told how he had snarled as he repeatedly bashed her head on the pavement and ripped out her hair.

Sentencing him to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, Judge Richard Brown told him: "I bear in mind that you have a good work record. But so-called domestic violence is never acceptable and will always be treated very seriously in this court.

"By pleading not guilty you have shown very little remorse for your actions. I do take the view that this case is so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified."

He handed him a two-year supervision order and ordered him to attend a domestic abuse programme.

The court heard that Byrne, currently suspended from the Met, went on to join Scotland Yard's elite CO6 Diplomatic Protection Group, an 800-strong team of armed officers who provide 24-hour protection for Government ministers and foreign diplomats at London embassies.

He also assisted in the July 7, 2005 London bombings.

Byrne, who is eligible for retirement, now faces an internal disciplinary hearing.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We expect the highest standards of professional behaviour from all our officers whether on or off duty.

"Where behaviour falls below that standard all our staff are fully aware that action will be taken.

"Following the conclusion of legal proceedings, disciplinary proceedings will proceed."

Byrne told the court he was devastated when his blonde, younger wife left him.

He said: "When I walked into a police station and first set eyes on Sarah I fell in love with her and she has been in my mind ever since."

He added: "I have never had a parking ticket or speeding ticket, I've always been a top notch, hard-working and law-abiding person."

He told the court that after the attack he went to the pub and downed two pints of beer after earlier drinking a glass of wine at home.

After he was arrested, Byrne allegedly told police: "Mr wife is a bitch and a slapper. When this is over I want to die."

Despite the attack in July 2008, Mrs Byrne, 36, told the court she did not want his career blemished by the incident.

A jury heard how Byrne "lost his temper" and attacked her over a maintenance money row at the matrimonial home in Horley following the break-up of their seven-year marriage.

She said: "Regardless of what has happened between me and Pat he is an incredibly good police officer and loves his career. I would not want to wreck that for him."

When describing what happened during the attack, Mrs Byrne said: "I just remember seeing a trainer coming towards my face and being kicked. It was almost like a stamping down kick and it scraped me on my nose.

"He still had hold of my hair and then I felt another kick. I remember screaming and shouting out: 'Please God someone help me, help me!'

"I just went into the foetal position and was lying face down and had my hands over my head."

The couple, who were divorced last month, first met when Byrne was 30 and she was a 17-year-old police cadet.