A man accused of stabbing a homeless man in Ipswich will be sentenced in April after pleading guilty to the attack on what would have been the first day of his trial.

Before Ipswich Crown Court was Jamie Phillips, 26, who had denied wounding Benjamin Douglas with intent to do him grievous bodily harm on November 5 but changed his plea to guilty before a jury was empanelled.

Judge Rupert Overbury adjourned sentence on Phillips until April 23 and asked the probation service to prepare a report on the issue of dangerousness. He said Phillips had several previous convictions for assault and possession of a weapon.

He was remanded in custody and told all types of custodial sentence including an extended sentence would be considered.

The attack on Mr Douglas took place in St Stephen’s Church Lane.

Phillips was living at Cavendish Lodge supported accommodation in Ipswich.