A man has pleaded guilty to murdering primary school teacher Sabina Nessa.

Koci Selamaj beat and strangled the 28-year-old as she walked through a park in Kidbrooke, south-east London, on 17 September.

The 36 year old garage worker chased Nessa and struck her with a 2ft long weapon as she walked through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east, London. She was on her way to meet a friend.

The body of Ms Nessa, who taught a year one class at Rushey Green Primary School in Catford, was found nearly 24 hours later covered with grass near a community centre in the park.

Selamaj, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday afternoon to plead guilty to murder.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan QC said it is alleged the murder "involved sexual or sadistic conduct", suggesting a starting point for sentence is life in prison with a minimum term of 30 years.

Premeditated and predatory attack

At an earlier hearing, prosecutor Alison Morgan QC described how the Albanian national drove to London from his home in Eastbourne to carry out what she described as "a premeditated and predatory attack on a stranger".

The killing was carried out with "extreme violence", Ms Morgan said, adding that the murder involved a sexual or sadistic element.

The court heard that CCTV showed Selamaj had spotted Ms Nessa and checked to see if there was anyone else around.

He then ran towards his victim and struck her 34 times using a metal traffic triangle, before carrying her away unconscious and strangling her in the park.

Selamaj disposed of the weapon in a river on his way back to Eastbourne.

The court heard he had previously been violent towards his former partner, putting his hands around her throat in a strangling motion.

Ms Nessa's body, which was covered in grass, was discovered the following day with her tights and underwear removed and parts of her body exposed.

Increased safety concerns for women

The murder of Ms Nessa heightened concern for the safety of women and girls in the capital following the stranger murders of Sarah Everard, and sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman.

Previously, Ms Nessa's family have said: "No family should ever have to go through this; We need our leaders to step up, and we need our communities to step up.

"We need our country to step up and stand with us and say no more violence against women.

"We also hope that everyone remembers Sabina as the joyful, happy, dedicated person that loved teaching and contributing to the community that she loved dearly."