Knifeman admits killing friend

Brian Wilburn, 24, suffered a severed artery in his leg and died within hours of being taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary in the early hours of July 4.

His near neighbour Scott Anderson, 21, of Balfour Road, Bentley, pleaded guilty to manslaughter yesterday at Sheffield Crown Court.

Prosecutor John Topham said there had been a "reckless" use of a knife by the defendant and he tried to help the victim when he realised what he had done.

Richard Sheldon, defending, told the court that Anderson was under the influence of drink and was a young man who was having "very troubled times" when the incident happened. Anderson also admitted attacking a householder in the Bentley area and causing him actual bodily harm a week prior to Mr Wilburn's death, by hitting him in the head with a plastic bottle and kicking him whilst he was on the ground.

He was remanded in custody for psychiatric and probation reports to assess whether he is a continuing danger to the public and will be sentenced in December.