Unlucky David Partridge, unable to win back his place at Bristol City after serving a jail term for his part in a brawl, has had his hopes of a second chance with Brentford dashed.

The centre-half's brief spell at the Bees started badly when he was sent off in just his third game, and was ended on Tuesday when the club decided not to extend his loan from Ashton Gate.

Partridge had hoped to get his career back on track at Griffin Park after being sentenced to two months in prison last September.

The 28-year-old Welsh international was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after being involved in a brawl outside a bar in Bristol.

"I would have loved to stay and help Brentford in their fight against relegation," said the former Motherwell, West Ham and Leyton Orient defender, who received a three-match ban for his red card in the defeat at Yeovil on January 20.

"I needed a new start and I believe I could have helped Brentford pull clear.

"I was very sorry for getting involved in the brawl but felt I was treated harshly because I was a footballer and the court wanted to make an example of me.

"I served a month in prison and, when I came out, I couldn't get my place back at City.

"My bad luck continued when I got sent off at Yeovil.

"The referee thought I was attempting to headbutt Leon Best, but I wasn't. We were just getting in each other's faces and exchanging a few heated words.

"Leon confirmed there was no contact and was prepared to be a witness, but unfortunately the video of the match did not show the incident."

Bees boss Scott Fitzgerald denied Partridge's return to Bristol was the result of a decision made by his directors, or by City manager Gary Johnson, the nephew of Brentford chief coach John Griffin.

Fitzgerald said: "It was my decision not to extend Partridge's loan.

"The board left it to me. I liked David, and wasn't influenced by the trouble he got into at Bristol.

"Everyone makes mistakes, and he deserves a break.

"But he would have missed Saturday's home match with Brighton through suspension and Bristol City would not have allowed him to play against them on March 10.

"The other factor was that Andy Frampton was exceptional at centre-half last Saturday, and Matt Heywood has started his recovery."

* Goalkeeper Nathan Abbey's brother Zema, the former Norwich, Wycombe and Bradford striker, is training with Brentford and scored in the reserves' 2-1 defeat at Gravesend on Tuesday.

But Fitzgerald said: "We agreed to let him train with us as a favour to get fit after injury. He is not on trial but we will have a look at him."

Zema has recently been with Kettering and Barton Rovers.