A UK teenager who killed a 17-year-old boy for dancing “Gangnam Style” in front of him and his girlfriend has avoided being tried for murder.

According to Manchester Evening News, Jordan Brennan was attacked outside a shop in the suburb of Gorton in October last year after he broke into the phenomenally popular Korean pop song Gangnam Style in front of the defendant, his girlfriend and Jordan’s friend.

The Manchester Crown Court heard that the attacker, also 17, took offence to the dance, which he said was “racist” and “mocking” because of his appearance and ethnicity.

The court heard that upon seeing the dance, the defendant confronted Jordan outside the shop, asking him to apologise for making him feel “angered and embarrassed” by the incident.

Although the attacker said no “punches connected”, he admitted that Jordan’s head or body banged against the side of the metal shutters before he fell to the floor, hitting the left side of his head against the concrete pavement.

Jordan managed to return home, but was found unresponsive by his mother the next morning. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Police initially arrested the defendant for murder, which has since been downgraded to manslaughter after defence barrister Kate Blackwell QC argued he had not intended to kill Jordan.

Prosecutor Rob Hall accepted the plea, saying the “evidence is inconclusive as to the motivation of Jordan Brennan at the time that he performed in the way that he did”.

The teenager has been granted bail, and will be sentenced on March 18.

A Facebook page has been set up in memory of Jordan, in addition to a crowd-funding effort which aims to raise AU$2770 for his family.

“This is for people who would like to make a donation in memory of jordan brennan all money raised will go to his family to give him the best send of he deserves 17 if to young to die rip jordan xx,” the description said.

So far, AU$1950 has been raised.

Tributes have been flowing steadily since October on the “Rip Jordan Brennan” page.