IN COURT: Former Roman Catholic priest Alexander Bede Walsh, pictured, has denied sexually assaulting seven boys over a period of 20 years.

The 57-year-old entered not guilty pleas to all 25 charges put to him at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday.

He denied 23 charges of indecently assaulting a male and two further charges of sexual assault.

It is alleged he indecently assaulted boys aged between seven and 16 on dates between July 1974 and December 1994.

Walsh, of Church Lane, Abbots Bromley, near Rugeley, served as a priest in Cheadle for 14 years until 1999. He was a governor and chaplain at Painsley Catholic High School, in the town.

He also served in Coventry and Coleshill, Warwickshire.

He will go on trial on a date to be fixed and was bailed.