A man today admitted killing a close friend in a drunken rage over their missing flat keys.

Jonathan Rees-Williams pleaded guilty to manslaughter after repeatedly punching his pal, David Barnes, to the ground.

The pair had been drinking together in their hometown of Brynmawr, South Wales, when doorman Rees-Williams lost his temper and turned on his flatmate.

Mr Barnes, who was aged 20, was pronounced dead at the scene near the Griffin Hotel during the early hours of August 22 of last year. A post-mortem showed he had suffered a basal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

The 24-year-old defendant, who lived with his victim on Beaufort Street, had been charged with murder but the Crown Prosecution Service accepted the plea to the lesser charge.

Gregory Bull QC, prosecuting, said he reluctantly had to accept the evidence from the defendant’s girlfriend, Gemma Davies, that Mr Barnes had thrown the first punch because she was the only eye witness.

The Recorder of Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Cooke QC, adjourned sentencing until 2pm tomorrow when more details of the case will emerge.

Detective Chief Inspector Bill Davies from Gwent Police said the death “demonstrates the devastating effects of alcohol-fuelled violence.”

He added: “Jonathan Rees-Williams and David Barnes had been close friends. They lived and socialised together and this was the case on the evening of August 21.

“Throughout the evening Jonathan had become angry after a series of arguments involving a number of different people.

“This mood developed, leading to an argument with David Barnes which resulted in David being fatally assaulted.”

The detective later confirmed the trigger for the assault had been Mr Barnes finding the pair’s flat keys in his pocket after they had spent some time looking for them.

Rees-Williams had initially claimed to police that he had discovered David and had nothing to do with any assault.

Outside court, a statement read on behalf of Sally Cranswick, David’s mother, said: “Nothing can explain what affect my son David’s death and the way he was taken has had on my family. We are devastated.

“David was a happy-go-lucky soul who would do anything to help anyone if he could, he was the life and soul of any party and the heartbeat of our family.

“David is missed by everyone that knew him but no more so than by his brothers, Craig, Scott, Liam and Rhys. They lost their brother and best friend.

“I cannot really put into words what David meant to us, I know not a day passes where we don’t think of him. David was a loving son, grandson and brother and if you were his friend he would do anything for you.

“He will be truly missed by his family and everyone who knew him but he will never be forgotten.

“We love you David and always will.”