Ex-Catholic priest admits more child abuse offences

The offences dated back to the 1970s

A convicted former Catholic priest admitted further child abuse offences, dating back to the 1970s.

Dennis Finbow, 77, is serving a prison term after he was found guilty in 2023 of abusing a young girl while working in Peterborough.

At the city's crown court on Monday, he admitted 15 indecent assaults on two males and three females, predominantly under the age of 16, between 1975 and 1992.

He will be sentenced for the additional offences on 15 September.

Finbow, formerly of Martlesham near Ipswich, was jailed for six-and-a-half years in March 2023 for touching a girl while she was in bed.

The court was told that when he was voluntarily interviewed, the defendant described the allegations "as nonsense and a fabrication".

In an impact statement read to the court, the victim said Finbow was a cigar-smoking "larger-than-life" character who had a "secret life" as a paedophile.

The Diocese of East Anglia said Finbow, who had also served in St Neots in Cambridgeshire, had retired and not been in active ministry since 2001.

He has since been stripped of his clerical status.

His sentencing was adjourned for statements from his victims to be prepared.

A sixteenth count of indecent assault was left to lie on file.