A young woman has spoken of her terror after the brother of Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha smashed her car window with a paving slab as she sat at the wheel.

Herve Zaha, the older brother of the Eagles striker, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage at Croydon Magistrates Court yesterday in an incident outside his home on St James Road, Croydon, on July 11.

The 23-year-old semi-professional footballer admitted using a paving stone to smash the passenger window of Shalwa Natume’s VW Polo as it was parked on his driveway at about 6.30pm.

Miss Natume said Zaha, who played for clubs including Croydon Greenside and Mole Valley SCR last season, was arguing with his ex-girlfriend, her cousin, as she collected items from his home.

She said: "They were having an argument. I thought she might be in danger so I came over. They had been on and off for years but she had ended it for good. He hates me because he thinks it is because of me.

"She got out of the car to argue with him, I was sitting there, he picked up the stone and smashed the window, the glass smashed everywhere – he was bleeding. I was so scared, I couldn’t believe someone would do that."

She said the damage cost £165 to repair.

Earlier the same day, charges of robbery had been dropped by the crown prosecution service against a second brother, Serge Zaha, at Southwark Crown Court.

Defending Zaha, Mr Mitchell told the court he had recently completed an economics degree and had secured a trial with a professional football club during the summer. He also suggested Miss Natume provoked the confrontation.

He said: "He asked his girlfriend if Miss Natume could park at the end of the road to avoid seeing her – he feels she sabotaged their relationship. She parked on his drive forcing him to interact.

"The argument escalated and she made comments about his mum. In any culture that would cause great offence."

The court gave Zaha a 12 month conditional discharge, ordered compensation costs of £100 be paid to Miss Natume and awarded £80 in court costs.