Report to be made as Colchester knife incident hits court

Police attended Penrice Close, in Colchester, shortly before 3.30pm on March 22.

The pre-school had gone into lockdown after the parent was hurt while waiting to pick up her child.

She was taken to hospital for treatment for injuries, although they were not believed to be life-threatening.

Following the incident Solie Essla, aged 19, was arrested by police officers in connection with the alleged attack.

Incident - emergency services rushed to the scene in Greenstead, Colchester

Appearing before a judge at Ipswich Crown Court, Essla spoke to confirm her name and date of birth.

She faces charges of attempted grievous bodily harm against a woman, assault by beating of another, and possession of a knife.

Essla’s barrister asked the judge for an adjournment to allow a psychiatrist to write a report on Essla’s well-being, questioning whether she was fit to enter a plea.

He stated there is a “considerable mental health background” in relation to trauma in the defendant’s life and post traumatic stress disorder could be a relevant factor in the case.

Read more:

• Pre-school goes into emergency lockdown as parent 'attacked with knife'
• 'My horror at daughter-in-law being slashed with knife outside pre-school'

He added the case is an “unusual one due to there being no obvious connection between her [Essla] and the complainant”.

Judge David Pugh agreed to adjourn the plea hearing until June 13 so a psychiatric report could be obtained in order to consider Essla’s fitness to plead and to stand trial.

He told her: “During this period a report is going to be prepared which the court will have the benefit of when you return”.

The judge remanded Essla of Cavendish Gardens, Barking, in custody at Chelmsford Prison ahead of the next hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, June 13.

Following the alleged incident on March 22, a police presence remained in Greenstead, Colchester, amid public concerns.