A PRIEST who 'systematically' sexually abused a string of boys while teaching at a top Catholic school in Manchester more than twenty years ago, has been jailed for six years.

Father William Green 67, had pleaded guilty to 27 assaults on six - boys aged between 11 and 15 at St Bede's School in Alexandra Park while head of religious education, and a deputy prefect there, and assault on an eight year old at a different school at which he had previously taught.

He was sentenced in total to 30 years but will serve only six years behind bars as the terms will run concurrently .

Green, who took up his appointment in 1973 after studying for the priesthood in Rome, was also given particular responsibility for boarding pupils at St Bede's and operated an open door policy, encouraging friendship with pupils who saw him as a "father figure".

Passing sentence, Judge Clement Goldstone told him: "You systematically and sexually abused these boys, who were vulnerable and impressionable, and they were groomed by you for the purposes of your own sexual gratification.

"You abused them in school, on school trips and on church-related activities, and you procured the trust and respect of families of several of your victims. You breached their trust and friendship remorsefully and repeatedly.

"You knew that because of your position they would not or could not say no, and if they resisted you turned off the charm and kindness, and became strict, distant, and ostracised them.

"These were boys you felt needed your help - indeed they did. But they neither needed nor relished nor needed your unwarranted attentions or depraved behaviour. You left in your wake devastation and ruination in as far as the lives of your victims were concerned the effects were to last many years, and in some cases remain."

He told him: "My primary duty is to punish you and to deter others in positions of trust and responsibility from behaving in a similar manner. You showed no mercy to your victims while you abused them."

Alaric Bassano prosecuting at Manchester Crown Court, said boarding pupils at Bede's were particularly vulnerable, as they were separated from their families.

He said there had been a distinct pattern of grooming by Green, who appeared friendly, approachable and relaxed in contrast to the relative strictness of other members of staff at the school.

Pupils often spent time in his living quarters where they were treated to food, sweets, tea, television, and in some cases, cigarettes and alcohol.

Many victims described the attraction of spending time with the priest, whose behaviour towards them seemed to "mitigate the austerity of school rules and loneliness away from home".

The court was told that sexual abuse followed a similar pattern in all cases: games of wrestling which progressed to acts of simulated intercourse often involving Green sexually assaulting his victims.

Mr Bassano said in four of the cases abuse was systematic, with offences committed on numerous occasions over a number of years against each victim.

There was also a significant breach of trust, in that that not only was he the boys' teacher, prefect and priest, but in some cases he was a family friend, enjoying friendships with the boys' parents.

One of the victims was just eight when he was indecently assaulted by Green who was teaching at a junior school before training for the priesthood.

Green later continued to assault him when he attended St Bede's as a day pupil.

The court was told that he had felt unable to resist his teacher's advances or tell anyone what was happening.

Later in life he struggled to come to terms with what had happened, suffering anxiety and depression, and taking overdoses of tablets on two occasions because of his distress.

Another victim who was a boarder at Bede's, sought help from Green when he was being bullied by other boys.

He was befriended by the priest, the bullying stopped, but he was sexually abused repeatedly - around 100 times.

The victim, who said he was often provided with drink and cigarettes, described the "terrible burden" which he carried, saying: "I think it affects everything I do.... childhood and innocence stolen."

Another of the victims said the abuse preyed on his mind for years, he saw sex as dirty, and struggled in his personal relationships.

He also experienced guilt at not having come forward sooner.

Peter Turner defending, told the court that Green himself had been a victim of physical abuse at the hands of his step-father as a child.

He said Green felt deep shame about his actions, and at one point had believed that what he had done was so terrible, God would not forgive him.

He had admitted to already contemplating suicide, and was "a very broken and sick man."

Mr Turner stressed that since leaving St Bede's in 1990 the priest had served with distinction at the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Wigan, where he was regarded as a dedicated and selfless man, whose ministry was second to none.

Civil action is now being planned by a number of Green's victims, against St Bede's.

Richard Scorer, partner with Manchester law firm Pannone, who is representing five of the seven victims, along with two others that have since come forward, said: "What we have heard is a shameful catalogue of abuse involving many hundreds of offences over two decades at St Bedes. His victims and their families wish it had been a longer sentence, but in many ways, seeing Green sentenced will help them accept a degree of closure.

"I can confirm that we will be proceeding with civil cases, mainly against St Bede's, in relation to the abuse that occurred there."

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