A champion athlete tried to kill an official in a 'savage' knife attack after British Athletics threatened to strip her of her titles when it emerged she was born a man.

Lauren Jeska, 41, who has represented England as a fell-runner, admitted to attempted murder after stabbing British Athletics official Ralph Knibbs, 51, at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium in March.

She attacked him in the head and neck with two six-inch kitchen knives and had a third blade - a bread knife - stashed in her bag during the 'premeditated' and 'savage' attack, Birmingham Crown Court heard today.

Lauren Jeska, 41, who has represented England as a fell-runner, admitted to attempted murder after stabbing British Athletics official Ralph Knibbs, 51. Pictured, Jeska in 2013

Lauren Jeska (pictured left) pleaded guilty to attempting to kill former rugby player Ralph Knibbs (right) with two six-inch knives, as she had a third stashed in her bag

Lauren Jeska appearing by video link at Birmingham Crown Court, where she admitted the attempted murderMr Knibbs and assaulting two other men who stepped in to help him

She launched the attack on former rugby player Mr Knibbs, now the head of human resources and welfare at British Athletics, after the organisation said it would review her status as a female athlete.

Her titles in fell-running - running over hills and mountains - could have been stripped if it was ruled that she had an unfair advantage while competing against women.

Jeska, from Machynlleth, Powys, Mid Wales, inflicted life-threatening injuries on Mr Knibbs, a former international rugby player who famously turned down the chance to go on tour with England to South Africa in 1984 because he opposed apartheid.

Jeska, who the court heard is autistic, also admitted lashing out at two other top UK Athletics officials, accountant Tim Begley and Kevan Taylor, when they tried to stop her attacking Mr Knibbs.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed Jeska was a 'transgender athlete' following her guilty plea to attempted murder.

An CPS spokesman added: 'On 22 March 2016, Lauren Jeska, 42, drove from her home in Wales to the British Athletics headquarters in Perry Barr, Birmingham armed with a number of knives.

'The defendant entered their offices and asked to speak to the victim.

In 2007 Knibbs was named in The Sunday Times top ten centres of all time (pictured in 1983)

'She was asked to wait in reception, however, Jeska walked into the open plan office and attacked the victim and stabbed him a number of times.

'Colleagues of the victim intervened in an attempt to restrain the defendant. Police were called and the defendant was arrested.'

The CPS and West Midlands Police both confirmed Jeska was transgender which was a factor in her motive for attacking Mr Knibbs.

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 on the victim which resulted in the victim and his colleagues sustaining a number of life threatening injuries.'

Witnesses to the attack said people ran to Mr Knibbs' assistance with 'paper towels' to attend to his injuries.

Jeska was the women's 2010, 2011 and 2012 English Fell Running Champion and won the British Championship in 2012

One told the Birmingham Mail: 'I spoke to the trainer who asked the receptionist what to do, and she said 'please leave the building'.

'I was going to go in the lift but she told me to use the stairwell. We just didn't know whether the person was still at large.

'Everyone started to evacuate the building, and people were looking shaken and upset, and some people were crying.'

Mr Knibbs was in the court to hear Jeska enter her pleas from HMP Foston Hall in Derbyshire via a video link.

She appeared wearing a grey top and cardigan and showed no emotion during the hearing.

Birmingham Crown Court heard Jeska, 41, used two kitchen knives in the attack at Alexander Stadium (pictured)

Jeska, 41, from Powys, Mid Wales, was charged in March with attempting to murder former Bristol rugby star Ralph Knibbs at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium (pictured)

After Jeska's pleas were entered, prosecutor Timothy Atkins QC said not guilty pleas to charges of wounding were acceptable to the Crown and that the victims were content with the decision not to proceed to a trial.

Mr Atkins told the judge: 'During the course of the attack (on Mr Knibbs), Mr Taylor and Mr Begley went to his assistance and both were injured.

'Thankfully their injuries were not of the most serious order and so the pleas to wounding are acceptable to the Crown given the pleas that have been entered.'

Although Jeska admitted possessing two kitchen knives, one with a wooden handle, she denied possessing a bread knife which had been left in a bag before the attack at 10.30am on March 22.

Julie Warburton, for the defence, said a diagnosis of autism may be raised at the next hearing, which would be invited to consider whether a 'medical disposal' would be available to the sentencing judge.

Judge Philip Parker QC was told the defendant had been the subject of psychiatric assessment but further reports would be necessary before she is sentenced on November 15.

Mr Knibbs represented England at under-23 level and played 436 times for Bristol Rugby Football Club, scoring 123 tries during his career spanning the 1970s and 1980s

Jeska is listed as being a member of the Yorkshire-based Todmorden Harriers Running Club on the group's website. She was also a second-claim member for Aberystwyth AC.

According to the site, she was the women's English Fell Running Champion for three consecutive years between 2010-2012 and won the British Championship in 2012.

Speaking after the court hearing, the secretary of Aberystwyth AC, Anita Worthing, said: 'Her primary club was Todmorden Harriers, but while she was living here she also joined Aberystwyth AC and ran in our colours for local races.

'I have no idea why she would want to kill anyone. I always knew her as a kind, gentle and exceptionally helpful person.'

UK ATHLETICS CLAIM THE ATTACK WAS 'UNPROVOKED' A statement from UK Athletics read: 'We are pleased that today's admission brings to a close a difficult period for our colleagues following the unprovoked attack on Mr Knibbs and staff at our Alexander Stadium head office in Birmingham earlier this year. 'UK Athletics would like to place on the record a number of thanks following events on 22 March. A thank you to staff who reacted quickly in restraining the individual concerned, putting themselves at risk. 'A thank you to staff who worked calmly and yet with urgency to apply what was life-saving first aid to Mr Knibbs.' Advertisement

Former England Sevens rugby player Mr Knibbs was rushed to hospital and stabilised after the March 22 attack.

Mr Knibbs represented England at under-23 level and played 436 times for Bristol Rugby Football Club, scoring 123 tries during his career spanning the 1970s and 1980s.

He also ruled himself out of the 1988 England tour of Australia and Fiji due to work commitments, making him one of the only players to ever turn down England twice.

In 2007 he was named in The Sunday Times top ten centres of all time.

According to the British Athletics website, Mr Taylor is the finance director for London 2017, the IAAF World Championships and the IPC Athletics World Championships, which will be held at the capital's Olympic Park.

He took up his position with UK Athletics in 2011 and previously held similar roles with top-flight rugby union club Sale Sharks and the Lawn Tennis Association.

He was also chief executive of Stockport County Football Club.