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BUNBURY: A 60-year-old Catholic priest from NSW had abused his position of trust when he indecently dealt with five children under 13, and could expect to go to jail, a judge said today.
Adrian Richard van Klooster, a former parish priest at Australind near Bunbury, 180km south of Perth, pleaded guilty today to indecently dealing with the children, from two families, at his church house. The offences happened on consecutive weekends in February last year. Dutch-born van Klooster was charged with 12 counts of indecently dealing with a child under 13, four of indecently recording a child under 13 and one of possessing child pornography. The West Australian District Court in Bunbury has been told some of the |
indecent dealing charges relate to the priest allegedly sliding around on the floor naked with the children, in olive oil and shampoo.
The indecent recording charge relates to van Klooster allegedly taking digital photographs of the children and also taking images after placing the naked children on a photocopy machine. The court was told he made 37 photocopies. Judge Mary Ann Yeats told van Klooster he was likely to go to jail. "Because of the severe breach of trust there's no question a sentence of imprisonment will be imposed," Judge Yeats said. She remanded the priest in custody while a pre-sentencing report was prepared. He is due to reappear in the court on May 12. |
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