Gavel and scales

Lauren Jeska, 41, tried to kill former professional rugby player Ralph Knibbs, 51, with a kitchen knife.

She also attacked two other officials, Tim Begley and Kevin Taylor, with blades when they tried to intervene.

Police and paramedics dashed to the Olympic-grade Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham, at 10.30am on March 23 to reports of a multiple stabbing.

Former England rugby star Mr Knibbs, the head of human resources and welfare for UK Athletics, was rushed to hospital and stabilised.

Jeska, now of Machynlleth, Powys, but formerly of Lancaster, who was the women’s 2010, 2011 and 2012 English fell running champion, and 2012 British champion, admitted attempted murder at Birmingham Crown Court.

She also admitted one count each of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Mr Begley and Mr Taylor.

In front of a packed public gallery including Mr Knibbs, Jeska also pleaded guilty to two counts of having a bladed article in a public place, namely two kitchen knives.

But she denied another count of possessing a bread knife as well as a count each of wounding with intent against Mr Begley and Mr Taylor.

At a previous hearing on March 24, magistrates heard she was found carrying a 12cm kitchen knife, a 13cm kitchen knife and a bread knife.

Jeska appeared by video link at Birmingham Crown Court today, Thursday wearing a grey dress and grey cardigan at the 15-minute hearing.

Prosecutor Richard Atkins QC said: “During the course of the attack on Ralph Knibbs [Mr Begley and Mr Taylor] went to his assistance and both were injured.

“But thankfully their injuries were not of the most serious order and having consulted the victims the pleas to the assaults are acceptable.

“The other matter subject to the not guilty plea was the third knife. This was left in the bag and there seems to be no public interest in proceeding with that one.”

Julie Warburton, defending, said: “I have already taken steps to gain funding for two further reports. The first will finalise the diagnosis in relation to autism.

“The second report is regarding her current state and if there is any medical disposal to available to the court.

“This will take about four weeks from the date the funding is received.”

Adjourning sentence, Judge Phillip Parker QC said: “Your pleas have been accepted and the sentence date has been fixed for November 15.

“In the mean time I remand you in custody.”

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

He famously turned down the chance to go on tour with England to South Africa in 1984 because he opposed apartheid.

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.

The British Athletics website states 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.

It says 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.

Before getting involved in sport he was a finance director for ITV for seven years.

According to Mr Begley’s LinkedIn page he has been an accountant with UK Athletics since 2008 and fundraises for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Jeska is listed as being a member of the Yorkshire-based Todmorden Harriers Running Club on the group’s website.

The Alexander Stadium hosts the National Athletics Championships each year and has a capacity for 12,700 spectators. UK Athletics - Britain’s governing body for the sport - is based at the venue.

A spokesperson for UK Athletics said: “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 22nd 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.