A man who has denied murdering a 63-year-old who was stabbed in the neck in his Norwich flat following a row over drugs has admitted manslaughter.

Theodore Lynch, 41, has been on trial for the murder of Leslie Smith, 63, whose body was found in his property in Suffolk Square.

Eastern Daily Press: Suffolk Square, NorwichSuffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Norwich Crown Court has heard Lynch is alleged to have fatally stabbed Mr Smith after the victim smoked drugs he bought with cash given to him by the defendant for drugs.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Lynch, of no fixed abode, has denied murder but on Friday - the fifth day of his trial - he entered a guilty plea to an offence of manslaughter in front of the eight women and four men of the jury.

Stephen Rose KC, prosecuting, said the crown had been given "advance warning" of the plea but following a "review of the case" they "don't consider that's an acceptable plea".

He said the trial, on the charge of murder, would continue.

Jurors were sent away until Monday when the trial will resume.

Eastern Daily Press: Suffolk Square, NorwichSuffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Although the row is understood to have happened on October 5, 2021, Mr Smith's body was not discovered until 12 days later when neighbours reported a "bad smell" to housing officers.

CCTV footage from Suffolk Square shows Lynch running along the balcony away from Mr Smith's flat before entering a stairwell and heading down the stairs "at some speed".

The court has been told Lynch was angry when he "stabbed" Mr Smith, inflicting the wound "intending to cause him at least very serious harm if not worse".

Giving evidence on Thursday, Lynch's ex-partner, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said the defendant turned up at hers on the night of October 5 "agitated" and with blood on his hands and coat.

Eastern Daily Press: Suffolk Square, NorwichSuffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)She said when he walked through the back door of her home she could "smell blood".

The witness said he "had blood on him", both on his hands and on the "sleeve of his coat".

When Lynch went to wash his hands in the bathroom she asked what happened and he replied "people mugging me off".

She asked if he had "hurt someone".

She said he told her: "I've pushed something into someone's neck."

The trial continues.