A CONVICTED killer has been told he will be returning to prison after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm to two men.

Andrew Wayne Pilkington, of Bridgewater Street, was jailed for nine years in October 2001 for the unlawful killing of fellow Hindley man Paul Akister, after a pub row.

The 35-year-old has now admitted punching Dennis Williams and David Johnson outside licensed premises on October 25 and February 28 respectively and will be sentenced on October 21.

As well as the manslaughter conviction in 2001, Pilkington has four convictions for wounding, one for causing grievous bodily harm and two for assault causing actual bodily harm.

He was due to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court today, Thursday, but changed his plea to guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm to Mr Williams.

Pilkington had already admitted the same charge in relation to Mr Johnson.

Judge Neil Flewitt adjourned sentencing to enable a probation report to be prepared on whether Pilkington is a dangerous offender.

β€œIt is inevitable there will be a prison sentence,” he warned Pilkington.

The judge also asked the prosecution to provide up-to-date impact statements from Pilkington's latest two victims.

At the time of the attack on Mr Johnson Pilkington was on bail for the earlier assault and also had a suspended prison sentence hanging over him for aggravated vehicle taking imposed on December 23.

Dan Travers, defending, said that the two offences for which he is to be sentenced both involved a single punch outside licensed premises in the early hours of the morning.

He pointed out that Pilkington had changed his plea to being guilty of injuring Mr Williams despite a vital witness not attending court today.

Pilikington was further remanded in custody.