A woman who slashed a parent with a knife outside a pre-school in Colchester will be sentenced next month after she admitted an offence of unlawful wounding.

Solie Essla, of Cavendish Gardens, Barking, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday.

She denied wounding a woman with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but admitted a less serious offence of unlawfully wounding her.

She also pleaded guilty to having a knife in Forest Road, Colchester, and assaulting another woman by beating.

Wayne Cleaver, prosecuting, said Essla’s pleas were acceptable and the Crown Prosecution Service wouldn’t be seeking a trial on the charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Officers from Essex Police were called to Penrice Close, in Colchester, shortly before 3.30pm on March 22 and a woman was taken to hospital for treatment for her injuries.

Beeches Pre School Annexe went into lockdown after the parent was hurt while waiting to pick up her child.

Her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Dave Smith’s daughter-in-law was the woman who was attacked.

Speaking shortly after the assault, the 63-year-old Colchester resident said: “She’s traumatised by what’s happened.

“She was there to pick up her four-year-old but she had my little baby granddaughter with her as well.

“It could have been so much worse - it does not bear thinking about.”

Gazette: Incident - emergency services on the scene of the attackIncident - emergency services on the scene of the attack (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “She’s been interviewed by the police, but has taken it all very, very badly.

“We don’t know whether she will ever return to the nursery; it has traumatised her.

“She is a very anxious woman anyway, living with anxiety, and had only just started leaving the house, so this has really knocked her back.

“The attacker slashed her with a knife on the arm and it’s quite deep, she’s had stitches at hospital.

“If this was a few minutes later a load of four-year-old kids would’ve walked out and been traumatised for life.

 “She is very shaken up. Physically the injuries could be far worse but it’s the mental impact which is going to be bad.

“I’m just glad the police got there before things turned out a lot worse.”

Steven Dyble for Essla, who has no previous convictions, described his client as “vulnerable”.

Recorder Sarah Przybylska agreed to adjourn sentence on Essla until September 16 for a pre-sentence report and remanded her in custody.