A woman has admitted attempted murder after she threw a young child head first on the ground, causing serious injuries.

Kim Clark, of Ashford, entered the plea shortly before she was due to stand trial.

The 34-year-old denied attempting to wound her partner David Hamer with intent to do grievous bodily harm after arming herself with a knife and the charge was left on file.

Clark had denied attempted murder and offered a guilty plea to causing the child grievous bodily harm with intent, but prosecutor Christopher Tehrani QC it was intended to proceed to trial on the more serious charge.

She then changed her plea after her QC Alan Kent said she did not wish to have a trial.

The judge, Mr Justice Spencer, questioned whether Clark’s intention to kill the victim was formed on the spur of the moment in February last year.

“I am sorry what I am about to do" - Kim Clark

But Mr Tehrani said before throwing the child to the floor she said: “I am sorry what I am about to do.” She then lifted the tot to shoulder level and threw it head first to the ground.

The child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, suffered head fractures.

Mr Tehrani said the victim was too young for there to be a definitive prognosis for the future.

Clark has been detained in the Trevor Gibbens psychiatric unit at Maidstone Hospital. She was accompanied in the dock by two nurses.

Mr Kent said Clark, who has a personality disorder, could be detained further under the Mental Health Act.

Adjourning sentence for further psychiatric reports, Mr Justice Spencer said: “It is a very serious case.”