A teenager has admitted killing a company director who was stabbed to death at a pub in Wolverhampton.

Michael Brown pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 29-year-old Andrew Diack at the Flying Dutchman pub in Merry Hill but denies murder.

He was due to face a murder trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court today.

The 19-year-old entered the manslaughter plea before Judge John Warner yesterday afternoon.

Mr Diack died at the pub after being stabbed once in the chest early on February 7 last year.

His partner Rachel Evans, aged 28, who he lived with on Stafford Road at Fordhouses, gave birth to his daughter Megan Valerie Diack 10 days after the tragedy.

Mr Diack moved to Wolverhampton from Fife, Scotland, when he was aged five. He attended Whitgreave Infant and Junior Schools before moving on to Moreton Community School and The Northicote School in Bushbury.

After leaving, he went to work for his stepfather Alan Davies’ road marking company STS, where he progressed to the role of director. The Claverley Drive pub has been shut ever since the tragedy and is currently on the market.

Members of Mr Diack’s family, including his partner, were in court yesterday to see the guilty plea to his killing made by Brown.

Miss Evans has described Mr Diack as “a loving and caring person”. She added: “He will be missed but never forgotten.”

His mother Valerie, aged 63, added: “He had so many friends and would talk to everyone, from the dustman to company directors.

“He was a bit of a joker and all the girls loved him, but it was Rachel who got him and he loved her so much.He was very protective of his family and really looked after us.”

A jury was sworn in yesterday afternoon and Brown’s trial was expected to last all week.