A Roman Catholic priest is admitting allegations that he sexually abused a 13-year -old.

Michael Dunn, 55, entered formal pleas of guilty to one charge of indecent assault and to two charges of gross indecency when he appeared before Teesside Magistrates court today.

Magistrates refused jurisdiction and remanded bearded Dunn on unconditional bail to Teesside Crown Court, for trial on a date yet to be fixed.

Dunn of Wembley Park Avenue, Hull, pleaded guilty to an offence of indecent assault on the child at Thornaby - where he was a priest at the church of Christ the King - between August 1975 and November 30, of the same year.

The two offences of gross indecency took place between October 31, 1975 and December 31, 1976.

Magistrates heard the alleged victim was " a member of the congregation'', at Thornaby, and the Bench agreed to an application by defence solicitor Max Gold, to extend legal aid.

Dunn has been parish priest at St Francis of Assissi in Hull, since 1994, but has been on "administrative leave'' since the allegations came to light.