A man has admitted killing the parcel delivery driver Claudiu-Carol Kondor, who died as he tried to prevent his van from being stolen in Leeds.

Mark Ross, 32, pleaded guilty to manslaughter when he appeared at Leeds crown court by video link from prison on Friday but he denied murder and will stand trial on that charge.

Kondor, 42, from Sheffield, was on his rounds delivering parcels for Amazon in the Wortley area of Leeds on 20 August when there was an attempt to steal his silver Ford Transit Cargo.

An inquest has heard that Kondor found someone “endeavouring to steal his vehicle” and was fatally injured as he tried to intervene. Police said Kondor was pronounced dead at the scene.

The inquest into his death was opened and adjourned at Wakefield coroner’s court last week. The coroner said the cause of death was head and chest injuries.

Kondor was delivering for Amazon and employed by SP Transport Group, which described him as “more than just a colleague – he was a friend, a confidant and a valued member of our team”.

A GoFundMe page set up by the company to support Kondor’s family has raised more than £31,000. Mike Neill, a colleague who started the fundraiser, said the kindness had been “nothing short of incredible” and “would never be forgotten”.

He wrote: “To everyone who has contributed, shared the campaign or offered their support in any way, I want to express my deepest gratitude. Your actions have not only provided financial relief to Claudiu’s family but they have also offered them a powerful reminder that they are not alone in their grief.”

Ross, of Armley, Leeds, was remanded into custody and is due to go on trial for murder on 4 March next year.