A TEENAGER killed a man after following his victim from a pub where he had been cheated by others out of money playing cards and darts, police revealed today.

Andrew McDonald, 19, of Granby Road, Manchester, pleaded guilty to manslaughter when he made a brief appearance at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

He admitted unlawfully killing David James Taylor, 25, of Greendale Avenue, Newchurch, on July 17 last year and was bailed by Judge Peter Openshaw QC until March 22, for sentence.

Speaking after the hearing, police revealed that David died following a single headbutt or punch during a night out.

His body was discovered slumped in a shop doorway in Bank Street at around midnight.

Det Insp Steve Chard revealed the victim had been followed out of the Crown pub in Bank Street, Rawtenstall town centre, after losing at cards and darts when it became clear he still had money on him.

He said: "We are obviously pleased with the plea and the family are satisfied with the manslaughter charge.

"It has been extremely difficult for David's family and his friends during this time. It's been a tragedy, especially as David was such a likeable lad."

He went on to tell how David died during a night out with two friends in Rawtenstall town centre.

He said: "They were in the Crown pub, playing cards and darts where the winner received £1, but the people they were playing with were cheating. When they got wise to what was going on they left going on to visit a couple of licensed premises, including the Sun pub. He left the Sun with his friends who were walking in front of him."

Det Insp Chard said McDonald had not been playing cards or darts with David but assaulted him outside after he left the pub. He added: "He was either headbutted or punched. It's not clear how David actually died because he had a number of injuries, they were only slight.

"The Home Office pathologist said he could not say for definite how David died but he did say that the assault contributed

"It has taken a long time to get to where we are, but we would like to see justice served for the family."

David's family, including his mum Caroline, 46, dad David, 49, twin brother James and younger brother, Robert, 22, were finally able to bury David in December - more than six months after his death.

The death of the popular Rossendale United supporter sent shockwaves through the Valley and more than 500 people attended his funeral, at St Nicholas' Church, Newchurch.

During the hearing at Preston Crown Court, McDonald's barrister Tony Cross asked for the sentence to be adjourned so that background reports could be compiled by a psychiatrist and also the probation service.

McDonald, was further bailed with conditions, one of which directs that he should not go within ten miles of Rawtenstall.