A PERVERTED Catholic priest who had a sordid relationship with a teenage altar boy has been told he faces a substantial prison sentence.

Father William Jacks, 49, admitted having a relationship with the boy, but claimed that nothing sexual had happened between them until he was sixteen.

But after a five-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court the jury found that the relationship started when the boy was just 12 years old and convicted him of four sexual charges.

Jacks, who hails from Darlington, was convicted of one count of gross indecency with a boy under 14 years and three of indecent assault.

Jacks was remanded to August 3.

Updated : 17:27, Friday 6th July