CATHOLIC priest Father Alexander Bede Walsh told a jury he is "deeply ashamed" about his previous conviction for downloading indecent images of children from the internet in 2005.

The 58-year-old, who served as a priest in Cheadle for 14 years, is on trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court charged with 27 offences including indecency and indecent assault. He denies all the allegations.

Yesterday Walsh said he "knew it was wrong" when he accessed the material, but said he pleaded guilty to the offence.

And he said he felt "deeply shocked" by the recent accusations made by eight complainants.

Walsh, who now lives in church accommodation in Church Lane, Abbots Bromley, near Rugeley, said he could not remember some of them.

He added: "My faith has been deepened by all of this."

Walsh's friend Father Aldo Tapparo told the jury he used to visit him in Cheadle and the house was "full of young people".

Walsh's counsel, Mark Watson, asked: "Did anything strike you as inappropriate or of concern?"

"Certainly not," said Father Tapparo.

In his closing speech Mr Watson said some complainants' memories may have been "coloured" by the news of Walsh's conviction.

He said there were inconsistencies in their evidence and said one man's account was a "pack of lies".

"Some have made false and deliberately false allegations," said Mr Watson. He added: "You can be clear he did not commit the offences."

The jury will consider its verdicts later today.

Earlier stories:

Priest: 'I am easy target for sex allegations'

Accused priest worked at two other churches

Father tells jury he believed his son was 'in good hands'

Priest sex trial: 'He abused me at college'

Priest sex trial: Boy was disgusted at 'abuse' by priest

Priest sex trial: 'Abuse made me feel like pervert'

Priest accused of sexually abusing boys over 20 years

Former Catholic priest trials trial over sex assault on boys

Former priest denies sex charges