A man accused of killing a British soldier in a Cyprus nightclub has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Fusilier David Lee Collins, 19, from Manchester was stabbed to death in a bar in Ayia Napa, in November 2011.

Three British teenagers were arrested shortly afterwards and charged with manslaughter.

Mohammed Abdulkadir Osman, 19, changed his plea and admitted killing him at a court in Larnaca. Charges against the two other have been dropped.

Fusilier Collins, who served with 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was stationed at Dhekelia, about 12 miles (20km) west of Ayia Napa.

He was stabbed the day before he was due to fly out to Afghanistan.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it has advised soldiers against going to some parts of Ayia Napa’s centre after past trouble.

The town is a popular destination for young holidaymakers.

Cyprus has two British military bases in the former colony, which gained independence from Britain in 1960, in Dhekelia and Episkopi.

The MoD said there are about 3,000 UK personnel based there.

BBC

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