A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the death of a man in Newcastle city centre last year. Ethan Cockram admitted to causing the fatal injuries to 55-year-old Simon Beston during an assault on St Andrew’s Street, in the Chinatown area, on July 26, 2018.

Emergency services arrived at the scene just before 10:30 p.m. and found Mr. Beston with head injuries. He was taken to hospital but later died on August 16 from the wounds sustained in the attack.

Cockram, who resides on Durham Street in Wallsend, entered his plea at Newcastle Crown Court and was subsequently remanded in custody pending sentencing. Two other individuals, Shayne Cook, 20, of Winifred Gardens, Wallsend, and Lola Charlton, 20, of Fairhaven Avenue, Walker, Newcastle, admitted to affray in connection with the incident. Both were released on conditional bail.

Judge Penny Moreland ordered pre-sentence reports for all three defendants and set the sentencing hearing for October 29.