A ROMAN Catholic priest has admitted that he sexually abused a 13-year-old boy.

Michael Dunn, 55, entered formal pleas of guilty to one charge of indecent assault and to two charges of gross indecency when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Magistrates remanded Dunn on unconditional bail to Teesside Crown Court for sentencing on a date to be fixed.

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

The two offences of gross indecency took place between November 1975 and January 1977. One of them was said to have been committed at Walsingham, Norfolk.

Magistrates agreed to an application to extend legal aid.

Dunn had been parish priest at St Francis of Assisi, in Hull, since 1994, but has been on administrative leave since the assault and abuse allegations came to light.

In a letter read from the pulpit to the parishioners of St Francis, in Hull, and Christ the King , Thornaby, the Right Reverend John Crowley, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Middlesbrough, said: "I know how much you will continue to pray for all involved in this sad situation, all of whom have been offered our pastoral support."

A statement sanctioned by the Bishop yesterday read: "The diocese of Middlesbrough acknowledges that Father Michael Dunn made an appearance in Teesside Court on Monday, January 17, where he entered a plea of guilty to the offences he was charged with.

"As the matter has been referred for further court proceedings at a later date, no further comment can be made at this time for legal reasons."