Former fell-running star who tried to murder athletics official sentenced to 18 years

A former champion fell-runner has been jailed for 18 years for the attempted murder of a UK Athletics official in Birmingham after a row about test samples.

Lauren Jeska, a transgender athlete, left Ralph Knibbs with life-threatening stab injuries after a bloody attack with two kitchen knives that she had snuck into his open-plan UK Athletics office at Alexander Stadium.

Sentencing Jeska, 42, of Powys, Judge Simon Drew QC said her crime had been a 'cool, calculated attack' which had been 'wholly unprovoked'.

Judge Simon Drew QC she was an ongoing danger to the public and that her attack was clearly planned with 'chilling precision'.

Two of Mr Knibbs' colleagues were also injured in the attack on March 22 last year in which a witness described Jeska looking "as though she were trying to skewer meat".

The athlete, of Machynlleth, Powys, had driven from her home in Wales to Alexander Stadium, signed herself in at reception and followed the receptionist into the office.

Jeska sought out Mr Knibbs before launching the assault that saw her repeatedly rain blows down on his head and neck.

Opening the case, Richard Atkins QC, said:

As a result, her racing results had been declared null and void, the court heard.The week before the attack, Mr Knibbs had gone to meet Jeska at her home to discuss the "long-term" issue with the sporting governing body.

Mr Atkins added that following the incident, Jeska told a psychiatrist "she fantasised about going to the Alexander Stadium and killing all of the staff".

Jeska, who gave no reaction to the sentence, was handed concurrent jail terms after also previously admitting two counts of assaulting Mr Knibbs' colleagues and carrying knives in public.

She was given an extended licence of five years, to be served after her release.