A PRIEST accused of sexually abusing eight boys worked in churches across North Staffordshire, it has been revealed.

Alexander Bede Walsh is currently on trial charged with 27 offences including indecency and indecent assault.

The trial has already heard that he was respected and trusted by his parishioners during the 14 years he worked in Cheadle.

Yesterday, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told he also spent time in Newcastle and Burslem.

Walsh, aged 58, was an assistant priest at the Holy Trinity Church, in Newcastle, after he was ordained in July 1979 until November 1982.

He then moved to Coventry before returning to North Staffordshire to work at Cotton College, in the Staffordshire Moorlands, in 1985 and then St Giles' Church, in Cheadle, in 1987.

In 1997, he also had responsibility for Alton parish and in 2000 he took up a post at St Joseph's Church, in Burslem.

The details of the defendant's career were outlined as the prosecution began concluding the presentation of its evidence.

Walsh has a previous conviction for making and possessing indecent images of children after websites were found on his computer.

The jury was told how 143 indecent images of boys were found on his computer along with records which showed stories concerning sexual abuse of young boys had also been accessed.

Walsh, of Church Lane, Abbots Bromley, near Rugeley, denies the allegations.

Defence witnesses are expected to begin giving their evidence soon.