A 26-year-old man has admitted murdering a former soldier outside an Oxford pub.

Christopher Philp admitted at Oxford Crown Court killing Stephen Pinker, a retired member of the Royal Green Jackets, outside the Corner House pub in Hollow Way on March 25.

Mr Pinker, a 43-year-old father-of-two, died in hospital after being slashed with a blade.

Philp spoke only to confirm his name and to reply "guilty" when the single charge was put to him as he stood in the dock at Oxford Crown Court.

The word was met with a gasp from the public gallery, where the victim's friends and family were sitting.

Philp was arrested and was charged with murder by detectives two days after the attack.

The family of the victim, who lived in Burford Road, Witney, Oxon, paid tribute to the infantryman following the killing.

Mr Pinker leaves former wife Sharon, his children Luke, aged 20 years, and Emily, aged 17 years, and fiancee Rebecca Holmes.

The burly defendant, with a pencil-thin beard and straggly, curly dark hair, wore a blue tracksuit top with a crucifix on a long chain over it as he sat in the dock.

He appeared impassive during the brief hearing, as his defence counsel Nicholas Syfret asked the judge to adjourn the hearing so the Probation Service could prepare a report.

Mr Syfret said he had agreed with prosecutor Tony McGeorge that before sentencing he would submit to the prosecution a basis on which the guilty plea had been entered.

If there is any dispute over the defence case then the sentencing may have to be adjourned.

Judge Patrick Eccles told the defendant: "Your case is going to be adjourned until July 17.

"On that occasion you will be brought back to court to be sentenced, although if there remains serious disagreement about the basis it may be the judge will have to give further directions."

He remanded the defendant into custody until the sentencing hearing.

Philp, of Halliday Hill, Headington, showed no emotion as he was led from the dock.