A ROMAN Catholic priest has admitted carrying out sex attacks on boys while serving in parishes in the North-East.

Father David Taylor, 59, yesterday pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault, all committed during the Eighties.

The allegations relate to three different boys, all aged under 16, and took place in Seaham, County Durham, and on Holy Island, off the Northumberland coast, on dates between January 1, 1982, and January 1, 1986, He gave his guilty pleas when the charges were put to him during a short hearing at Durham Crown Court.

His barrister, Peter Walsh, asked for the preparation of background reports on Fr Taylor by the Probation Service before he returns to be sentenced.

Given the nature of the allegations, the reports must have a special sex offender profile focus to assess the likelihood of him committing further similar offences.

Mr Walsh asked Judge Peter Bowers if at least an hour’s court time could be set aside when the case is re-listed for sentence to allow several references to be made on his behalf.

“He’s been on bail hitherto and I would ask for that to continue in the meantime,”

added Mr Walsh.

Agreeing, Judge Bowers adjourned sentence to a date to be confirmed, in the week of May 5, and bailed Fr Taylor to live at an address in Northumberland Avenue, Bedlington, Northumberland.

Fr Taylor, who was ordained in 1977, served as a priest in the Roman Catholic diocese of Hexham and Newcastle for 31 years until the allegations emerged.

He was “removed” as priest in charge at St Peter’s Church, in Kells Lane, Low Fell, a post he held from 2002, and granted administrative leave, “without prejudice”, in the meantime by the diocese.

Fr Taylor previously served at St Anthony’s Church, in Walker, Newcastle, at the Sisters of Mercy Mission, in Seaham, County Durham, St Joseph’s Church, Sunderland, and St John’s Church in Billingham, Teesside.