THE father-in-law of a woman slashed with a kitchen knife while on the school run has said she has been left traumatised by the incident.

Dave Smith said his heart dropped when he received a chilling phone call from his son stating his partner had been attacked.

The mum-of-two, whose name has been withheld, was on her way to pick up her four-year-old daughter from pre-school in Penrice Close, Colchester, when the terrifying incident unfolded.

Nineteen-year-old Solie Essla left her house in Forest Road at 3.30pm on March 22 with an eight inch kitchen knife and was initially seen by a man who was walking his dog, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Echo: Response - a police car attends the incidentResponse - a police car attends the incident (Image: Essex Police)

Essla shouted: “I’ll kill you” and the Arabic phrase 'Allahu Akbar' before running across the road towards the victim, who had a newborn baby in a pushchair, and another woman.

As she approached the women Essla lifted her arm and swung the knife at the second woman, striking her on the shoulder.

Essla then slashed the mother, who is in her thirties, three times on the lower part of her arm in a “stabbing motion” causing three separate cuts, said Wayne Cleaver, prosecuting.

She was later detained by the dog walker who had seen her earlier and arrested by police officers who had rushed to the scene.

Essla, of Forest Road, Colchester, admitted unlawful wounding, possession of a knife and assaulting a woman by beating.

Echo: Paramedics - an ambulance responding to the attackParamedics - an ambulance responding to the attack (Image: Newsquest)

She was given 16 months detention in a Young Offenders’ Institution suspended for two years and a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

She was also banned from contacting the victims of the offences and from going within a mile of Forest Road until further order.

Mr Smith, 63, said his daughter-in-law has been left frightened to leave her home following the attack.

“She’s a nice girl and has never been in any trouble in her life, she just plods along and loves her kids,” he said.

“I have to thank the police for responding so quickly and members of the public who stepped in the way to prevent her coming to further harm.

Mr Smith added: “However, I hardly call this sentence given to the attacker a deterrent.”