A TEENAGE girl has admitted killing a 34-year-old man in Accrington.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified because of her age, denied murder but pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Ken Embley on 11 January this year.

The plea was entered at Preston Crown Court on the basis of a lack of intent.

Mr Embley, who lived in Charter Street, Accrington, was found with stab wounds at a house in Royds Street.

Mr Michael Shorrock QC, for the prosecution, told the court the public interest was best served by the plea to manslaughter being accepted.

Defence counsel, Mr Nicholas Dean QC, said it was accepted that at the time the girl - then aged 16 - was suffering an abnormality of the mind.

He asked the court to adjourn sentencing so that background reports on the girl could be drawn up

Mr Dean said: "She is fully aware that it is close to inevitable she will serve a period of detention."

He added that she was, in effect, a child and "damaged".

The girl was remanded on conditional bail for sentencing on Tuesday 13 December.

She was told by the judge, Mr Justice Davis: "Part of your sentence is that you will have to live with the fact that you have stabbed someone to death. All sentencing options are open."

Mr Embley was a keen pool player who captained a team from the Oak Tree pub in Blackburn Road, Accrington.

He was also a keen Manchester United supporter, and at his funeral at Accrington Crematorium many mourners wore the team's colours and his coffin was draped with a Manchester United flag.