A TEENAGER last night spent his first night in jail for killing father-of-six David Cox in Rose Hill.

Jonathan Newton admitted a charge of manslaughter at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. The 17-year-old, who Judge Anthony King allowed the Oxford Mail to name because he will turn 18 next week, attacked Mr Cox, 56, on June 26.

Mr Cox, of Asquith Road, was found unconscious in a grassy area off Ashhurst Way, just yards from his home, at about 2.20am.

The public gallery was packed with more than 30 members of Mr Cox’s family to hear the teenager’s plea.

After the hearing, Mr Cox’s sister Sandra Davies, 55, of Spencer Crescent, Rose Hill, said: “We went for David because he can’t defend himself now. We all stuck together.

“We are all really happy he (Newton) has pleaded guilty.

“We have been waiting for something to happen since last June, and this helps a little bit.

“I hope he gets a good sentence and we can try to get on with our lives.

“We have to go forward now and there is hope he will be punished at last.

“We were really pleased with the outcome.

“If he had pleaded not guilty we would have had to have listened to all the details of that night in court.

“That would probably have destroyed us if we had to listen to what really happened.”

Mrs Davies said many of the family had been diagnosed with depression since Mr Cox’s death. She said several broke down on hearing the plea.

She added: “It has been terrible this last year. The family has been torn apart by it.

“It has been so hard living day to day. Many of us are backwards and forwards to the doctor’s with depression.”

Newton, now of Whitchurch Road, Withington, Manchester, was remanded in custody to be sentenced on February 28.

Judge King said: “I make it clear that the only outcome will be a custodial sentence.”