Monk accused of abusing college pupils

The alleged offences took place at Ampleforth College between 1994 and 2013, according to prosecutors

A monk at a North Yorkshire public school has gone on trial accused of sexually abusing two pupils.

Former housemaster Michael James Callaghan, 71, worked at Ampleforth College, a private Catholic boarding school, and was known as Father James.

At Teesside Crown Court, prosecutors say the alleged offences took place between 1994 and 2013.

Mr Callaghan denies a charge of sexual assault related to a 17-year-old pupil and 12 charges of indecent assault connected to a pupil aged between 14 and 18.

Opening the prosecution case, Mark McKone KC told the court one pupil was first assaulted when he was 14 and disclosed the abuse to his sister 25 years later.

Sharing the words of the former pupil with the court, Mr McKone said: "I was in a really bad place, I was going through hell at school, I was 200 miles-plus from my nearest family.

"I hated the sexual bit of it."

A second man alleges he was sexually assaulted when he was 17 and Mr Callaghan was in his late 50s.

The case continues.

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