Champion runner pleads guilty to ‘savage’ stabbing
AFELL-RUNNING champion who stabbed a British Athletics official in the head and neck in a ‘savage’ attack where she also attacked two others including a former Stockport County boss - has pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
Lauren Jeska left Ralph Knibbs, UK Athletics’ head of human resources and welfare, in a lifethreatening condition after taking two knives to the governing body’s offices at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium in March.
The city’s Crown Court was told two colleagues of Mr Knibbs suffered less serious injuries after stepping in to tackle Jeska.
The court heard the injuries of Jeska’s other victims - accountant Timothy Begley and finance director Kevan Taylor, who was once a director at Stockport County were ‘not of the most serious order’.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed after the hearing that the athlete drove from her home in Wales to Birmingham on March 22, entered UK Athletics’ offices and asked to speak to the victim.
The fell-runner was asked to wait in reception but made her way into the open plan office and attacked Mr Knibbs.
Commenting after the court hearing, Sean Kyne, District Crown Prosecutor from West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Lauren Jeska had a disagreement with British Athletics officials which escalated and rather than resolve the matter through the appropriate channels, she armed herself with a number of knives, drove from her home in Wales to Birmingham and launched a premeditated and savage attack.”
Former team-mates of Jeska expressed shock at her actions after she admitted two counts of having a knife in a public place, two of assault causing actual bodily harm and attempting to kill 51-year-old Mr Knibbs.
Jeska, of Wesley Terrace in Machynlleth, Powys, entered her pleas from a video conferencing suite at HMP Foston Hall in Derbyshire.
The 42-year-old was England’s champion fellrunner three times between 2010-12, and has been a member of Todmorden Harriers, Aberystwyth Athletics Club and another club based in Snowdonia.
Judge Philip Parker QC was told that the defendant had been the subject of psychiatric assessment but further reports would be necessary before she is sentenced on November 15.