Messages on man's phone exposed his killer's guilt

The attack on Paul Ainscough, 57, was seen by a number of people in the Stag pub in Leyland

A man who died days after being assaulted in a pub had messages on his phone in which his attacker admitted what he had done.

The body of Paul Ainscough, 57, was found in a property on Hollinshead Street, Chorley, on 24 June, two days after Liam Slack attacked him in the Stag pub on Worden Lane, Leyland, Lancashire Police said.

The messages found on Mr Ainscough's phone showed Slack admitting the assault, the force added.

Slack, 34, from Eccleston, pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to manslaughter and was given conditional bail ahead of being sentenced on 1 December.

A post mortem examination confirmed Mr Ainscough died as a result of blunt force trauma to the chest.

Slack, of Langton Brow, was initially arrested on suspicion of Section 18 Assault, then later on suspicion of murder.

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Slack was charged with manslaughter.

Det Insp Marc Armstrong welcomed the guilty plea, which he said [held] Slack accountable for Paul's unlawful death".

"The plea means that Paul's family will not have to face the anguish of a trial and my thoughts remain with them at what continues to be a traumatic time," he said.

"I would also like to thank the public for coming forward and giving statements which enabled us to establish exactly what happened."