A FORMER professional footballer has admitted sexually assaulting a young woman as she slept in her bed.

Ex-Middlesbrough and Glasgow Celtic striker Chris Killen, was in a “stupefied state” from alcohol when he went into the spare bedroom of the house the woman was staying in, in Bury, Greater Manchester, and touched her sexually.

Killen originally pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing but admitted the offence shortly before he was due to go on trial before a jury at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old stood in the dock and pleaded guilty to a single charge of sexual assault on September 17 last year.

Lisa Judge, defending, said the guilty plea had been made on a “specific basis” as to what Killen had admitted doing, and this had been accepted by the prosecution.

The basis of the plea was not given in court and no further details about the exact nature of the sexual assault were made public.

Miss Judge said Killen, of London Road, Adlington, near Macclesfield, had “no relevant” previous convictions.

Gary Woodall, prosecuting, said Killen’s basis of plea was “inconsistent” with the complainant’s statement to police.

But after “lengthy discussion” Mr Woodall said the complainant had “taken the lead” and there would now not be a trial given Killen’s admission of guilt.

Judge Maurice Greene adjourned for the preparation of pre-sentence and psychiatric reports on the former international footballer.

He gave Killen bail but added: “At the end of the day this was a sexual assault on a sleeping young woman. It’s a serious matter.

“All sentencing options will remain open to the court.”

New Zealand-born Killen represented his country in the 2010 World Cup after playing for Middlesbrough and Celtic and starting his career with Man City as a trainee.

During his six-month stint at Boro in 2010, he played for his former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan along with teammates Willo Flood and Barry Robson, he played 17 games, scoring on three occasions

His first goal at the Riverside Stadium on February 9, in a 2–1 win over Barnsley. He scored two further headed goals in Championship games against Reading and Preston North End but left the club after the end of the 2009/10 season.

Killen will be sentenced on August 1.