A Balham woman brandishing a samurai sword told a woman she would kill her during a street fight, a court heard this week.

Nikola Fagin, of St James's Drive, pleaded guilty at South Western Magistrates' Court on Friday to common assault and possessing an offensive weapon.

The court was told how she had seen Carly Fleurin walking outside a pub in Battersea Park Road at about 10pm on October 10.

She ran out on to the street and began punching Ms Fleurin in the head, grabbed her round the throat and attempted to hit her head against a parked car, said the prosecution.

The victim ran to a nearby off-licence with her friends, but Ms Fagin soon appeared at the door carrying a samurai sword she had got from her car, the court heard.

She said: "Step outside, I'm going to kill you."

Police arrived at the scene and Ms Fagin was said to have run off, dropping the sword.

Ms Fagin said she had only wanted to frighten Ms Fleurin and never intended to use the weapon.

She was banned from any contact with Ms Fleurin and will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court next month.