Koci Selamaj, a 36-year-old garage worker from Eastbourne, has pleaded guilty to the murder of school teacher Sabina Nessa in south London last year.

Selamaj entered the plea on the first day of his trial at the Old Bailey today.

The prosecution told an earlier hearing that Nessa, a year 1 teacher at Rushey Green primary school in Catford, had been struck with a 60cm weapon.

The prosecutor Alison Morgan QC also described how the Albanian national drove to London from his home in Eastbourne to carry out what she described as “a pre-meditated and predatory attack on a stranger”.