A WOMAN launched a vicious attack on another mum waiting for her children to finish school, then was abusive towards its members of staff, an Isle of Wight court was told.

Kyra Mellor, 27, of Furrlongs, Newport, admitted assaulting a woman by beating on January 27.

The incident happened during school pick-up time at Barton Primary School, Newport, that afternoon.

Mellor also admitted using threatening, abusive and insulting words and behaviour to cause harassment, alarm and distress to a schoolteacher and a learning support assistant.

The victim believed a comment she heard was provocative, and reacted with an insult, which Mellor countered with a threat of violence, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court yesterday (Tuesday).

When the woman challenged her with: "Do your worst," Mellor launched a vicious assault on her — biting her forehead, ripping her hair out with her teeth and punching her head while in a headlock, before taking her to the ground.

The woman suffered bruising on her head, and was sick afterwards.

In her victim statement, she said the abuse had been ongoing and she was concerned about further assaults — believing she would "quite happily do it all over again".

The teacher and colleague came out to investigate the disturbance and was approached by the victim, in shock.

Mellor then told the teacher: "You are f****** s***, the school is f****** s***, none of you do your job."

Fearing she would be assaulted too, in front of children and parents, the teacher walked away.

Mellor then turned on her colleague, who shouted at her: "Do you want some?"

The learning support assistant said Mellor's eyes were massive and she came across as being psychotic and extremely intimidating, with parents repeatedly asking Mellor to stop.

To police, Mellor claimed she acted in self defence, but accepted her actions were excessive and wrong.

For Mellor, Amy Hosell said: "She cannot deny teeth were used as a weapon and she accepts her actions were completely excessive, for which she apologises." 

Mellor, who has just recovered from open heart surgery, has a personality disorder.

Magistrates ordered a report on Mellor. She will be sentenced on September 16.