Athletics champ stabs boss who was set to strip her of titles for being born a man
Lauren Jeska has pleaded guilty to knifing Ralph Knibbs and assaulting two men who tried to help him
A FELL-running champion tried to a murder a British Athletics official in a row whether she would be stripped of her titles because she was born a man.
Transgender athlete Lauren Jeska stabbed Ralph Knibbs in the head and neck in a "savage attack" at the Alexandra Stadium in Birmingham.
It is understood that a review was to take place into her status as a female athlete because Jeska had been born a man.
Former Fell Running champion Lauren Jeska pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Ralph Knibbs
Her titles could have been in doubt if UK Athletics ruled that she had had an unfair advantage while competing against women.
The 41-year-old, of Machynlleth, Powys, drove from her home in Wales to Birmingham athletics stadium and asked to speak to the victim.
She was asked to wait in reception but charged into the office and attacked Mr Knibbs with a knife.
Jeska pleaded not guilty to wounding Tim Begley and Kevan Taylor with intent, but admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
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Jeska today admitted trying to murder former rugby player Knibbs by stabbing him in March.
She also pleaded guilty to two charges of having a knife in a public place during a video-link appearance at Birmingham Crown Court.
She admitted two charges of carrying kitchen knives, but denies one of carrying a bread knife.
Jeska had the bread knife in her bag throughout the attack, but did not take it out.
Richard Atkins, QC for the prosecution, accepted the pleas and accepted the amended charges after talking to the victims.
The case was originally set to go to trial, but this was amended after the prosecution read reports on Jeska's health.
Afterwards her brother Nick, 40, told The Sun she was in “mental torment” before the attack at the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.
He said his twin Tim died in front of a train in 2013, adding: “I had two brothers, but one became my sister and the other killed himself.
“What’s happened feels like a second death in the family. My parents and I are devastated.”
Since the attack, Jeska has been diagnosed with autism.
The 2010, 2011 and 2012 English Fell Running Champion tried to kill Knibbs at the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, which regularly hosts Olympic-level events.
Knibbs 51, is the former head of human resources and welfare for UK athletics.
Jeska is due to be sentenced on November 15 and will remain in custody until sentencing.
Officers were called to the Perry Barr stadium, which has hosted a string of athletics meeting, just before 10.30am on March 22 after reports a man had been stabbed.
Jeska was listed as a member of the West Yorkshire-based Todmorden Harriers the athletics club’s website.
It said she was the women’s 2010, 2011 and 2012 English Fell Running Champion and won the British Championship in 2012.
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