Retired priest admits abusing boys

A retired priest has admitted a series of sex assaults on youths over more than a decade.

Father John Haley Dossor, who retired as priest-in-charge at St Mary at the Elms in Ipswich, Suffolk, in 2007, pleaded guilty at Ipswich Crown Court to six indecent assaults against two boys aged between 13 and 17.

The 71-year-old, of Kirton, near Felixstowe, had denied a further nine charges relating to attacks on men and boys.

These will remain on the file but prosecutor Charles Myatt said a decision had been taken not to proceed on these counts.

He said: "Given the pleas already entered and following discussions with the victims, it has been decided a trial would not be in the public interest."

The allegations date between 1990 and 2004.

Dossor will be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court at some point after November 12 and he was warned he could face prison.

The Rt Rev Nigel Stock, Bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese, said: "I offer unreserved regret and apologies to all those affected by this matter.

"Clergy hold a position of trust and whenever such trust is broken it is widely felt, most of all by those who have been directly affected.

"The church has learnt much over the years and has in place very high standards of safeguarding in this diocese, which I am sure both the police and the local authority will endorse. Whilst these events took place a long time ago it is only right that the church should acknowledge the broken trust and offer sincere and deep apologies."