A 23-YEAR-OLD has been cleared of charges relating to the stabbing of another mother in a school playground.

Grace Henry was acquitted of wounding Helena Estridge with intent during an incident at James Dixon Primary School, William Booth Road, Anerley.

She was also cleared of a lesser charge of wounding.

A jury at Croydon Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of the two women tussling near the school's car park in May last year.

Ms Estridge, who was three-months pregnant at the time, said the pair started arguing after Henry allegedly lifted her dress and said "kiss that" as she showed her backside.

The 43-year-old said: "She had a knife and she stabbed me in the right side of my forehead and in my shoulder.

"We both fell on the floor and she stabbed me in the thigh.

"My little boy was screaming. I feared for my life."

Henry, who was living in Ridsdale Road, Anerley, at the time, said she had been carrying a knife because she was scared of Ms Estridge and wanted to protect herself.

She said she was grabbed and punched before they both fell to the ground.

Henry, who has since moved to Battersea, said: "Everything fell out of my pocket, my keys and the knife.

"I was on my back and she was on top of me."

She added: "I picked up the knife. She was punching and kicking me and I was trying to get her off me.

"I had the knife in one hand and I was holding her hair in the other.

"I accept I did the injuries but I didn't mean to do it. I had the knife to scare her, not to use it.

"The knife was used because I was defending myself."

Ms Estridge, who was treated at Lewisham Hospital, said the pair had argued earlier over £15 she owed Henry.

She added Henry had made insensitive comments about the deaths of her two children to pneumonia in the past.

Henry was cleared of both charges on February 1.